Wildlife celebrated in West Norfolk

The winners of a Garden Wildlife competition announced at King’s Lynn Town Hall.

It's a new competition that encourages people to showcase the difference their garden is making to the biodiversity of West Norfolk.

Cllr Michael de Whalley, Cabinet member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, says, “We had around 40 entries in our two categories for residents. As part of the judging panel, I was impressed by the high calibre of the entries we saw. The visits to each garden were delightful and inspirational."

The two categories for residents were best large garden and best small one.  The category for the local community was 'nature friendly parish'.

Winner of the best large garden, owned by Ray Roche.  The Butterfly (above) was pictured in his garden

Cllr Pallavi Devulapalli, Ward member for Airfield Ward, came up with the idea for the competition, “We want to promote the value of biodiversity in West Norfolk, to improve it, and increase awareness of it. This is something that residents can be part of that helps nature, biodiversity, and our borough.”

Winner of best small garden, owned by Chris and Marie Rawlins

The gardens included ponds with hessian sack borders, swallow cups, bat boxes, moth trapping (and recording of over 900 species), space for swifts and bats to roost and nest in natural features, and adaptions to garden planting to benefit climate and species.

Chris and Marie Rawlins' garden

Cllr Whalley adds, “By organising this competition, we are helping to encourage residents to show how they’re making a difference to nature and how the work they do in their gardens contributes to local biodiversity in West Norfolk. We also hope that it raises awareness of biodiversity in the Borough and the small actions individuals can take to make a big difference."

Full list of winners:

Best Large Garden

Gold: Ray Roche

Silver: Alaina Slater and David Miller

Bronze: Caroline and Phillip Welham, Sue George and Jonathan Toye

Best Small Garden

Gold: Chris and Marie Rawlins

Silver: Ginene Coles, Kelly and Kelvin Boldero

Bronze: Ivan Wildman, Veronica Woods, David Beardall, Mary Pursglove

Nature Friendly Parish won by Downham Market.

Best large garden winner Ray Roche

Best small garden winner Chris and Marie Rawlins

All the winners, along with Cllr Michael de Whalley, Mayor Andy Bullen, Cllr Pallavi Devulapalli and Chris Walker (Biodiversity Project Ranger)

Photos all Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk