24 November 2004

Create your own Eden smart gardening awards announced

The efforts of gardeners throughout the Auckland region have been recognised in this year’s Create your own Eden Awards for smart gardening, announced today.

The Create your own Eden campaign is organised by Auckland City, Manukau City, North Shore City and Papakura District Councils and the awards aim to encourage smart gardening techniques such as using home compost and mulches, suitable natives and non-invasive plants and to reduce water use.

Entries were made by individuals, schools and community gardens and were judged by TV’s “bugman”, Ruud Kleinpaste, Unitec’s School of Landscape and Plant Design Brendan Hoare and environmental educator Tabitha Becroft.

The entries were judged against a number of criteria in five categories: design and appearance of garden, plants and techniques used, and efficient use of resources.

The awards will be presented at 2pm this Saturday 27 November at the Green Shed at the Ellerslie Flower Show.

“It’s nice to see a lot of people entering because it shows people are thinking about sustainable gardens. But what’s even greater is the number of kids in schools that are entering as this gives us two generations for the price of one!” Ruud Kleinpaste says.

The 2004 awards have been run to promote actions that lessen the amount of food and garden waste going to landfill.

Recipients of the gold and silver awards are as follows. Gold: Helen Crompton (Waiheke Island): 372 4118 Mountain View School (Mangere Bridge) – Sue McLachlan: 636 5410 Jacqueline and Roderick Sach (Birkdale): 483 6475 School of Natural Science, Unitec – Richard Main: 815 4321 ext 7167 Verran Primary School (Birkenhead): 483 7052

Silver: Kingsland Community Orchard – Bronwyn Blair: 815 9310/021 267 5314 Meadowbank School – Nicky Elmore: 520 4347 Pigeon Mountain School (Bucklands Beach) – Leigh Steel: 534 9765 Salisbury Building (Herne Bay) – Margot Butcher: 360 8282 Barbara Scrivens (Browns Bay): 476 1176 Jeannette Shaw (St Heliers): 575 5390

The 2004 awards have been supported by Masport Ltd, Chainsaw & Outdoor Power Ltd, Copper Workx, New Zealand Gardener, and Yates (www.coolkidsgrow.co.nz).

ENDS

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