Gardening for Wildlife
Congratulations to the winners of the Best Garden or Allotment for Wildlife class in the Loddiswell Show 2nd August 2025
The winners of this fabulous trophy made by Andy Harris were Amy and Jonny Woodings with their very wildlife friendly allotment
2nd Place: Judith Newman (Garden)
I3rd Place: Sam Bennett (Allotment)
Judge's Comments
Summary​
It was a real pleasure to visit the gardens and allotments entered – from colourful front gardens full of pollinators to nature-friendly plots where wildlife is clearly thriving. Each space had its own character, so it was a very tough competition to judge, but what stood out in every case was the care and effort being put in to welcoming wildlife.
If you’d like to continue your wildlife gardening journey, why not apply for a Devon Wildlife Trust Wildlife Garden Award? It’s a free and supportive scheme that recognises outdoor spaces of all types and sizes that help nature. Wildlife Garden Award | Devon Wildlife Trust
A huge well done and big thank you to everyone who entered the competition – you all had fantastic spaces for nature and should feel very proud that you’ve each created a vital stepping stone for wildlife, supporting a more connected, resilient, and nature-rich parish!
Hetty Lewis
Wilder Communities Officer
Devon Wildlife Trust
Amy and Jonny Woodings - 1st Place Prize: Trophy + Nest Box
This allotment was a shining example of how food-growing and wildlife gardening can coexist in harmony. It ticked lots of boxes with a wide range of habitats thoughtfully created and clearly maintained with wildlife in mind. The effort to support nature alongside productive planting was evident throughout, making this space both practical and ecologically rich. As our overall winner, there is little more we could ask for, but if you’re ever looking to go even further, adding an additional small pond or experimenting with a bog garden could further expand the range of species your plot supports. A bee bank could also be a great addition to complement the brilliant work already done for pollinators.
Judith Newman - 2nd Place Prize: Fatball Bird Feeder
This garden was a fantastic demonstration of how wildlife-friendly spaces can also be beautifully designed and well-kept. The planting was clearly chosen with pollinators and other wildlife in mind, and the variety of habitats was impressive – it was a real joy to see so many insects and birds actively using the space during our visit. The balance between structure, aesthetics and ecological value was particularly well judged, and this garden was a very deserving second place. For a gardener already doing so much, an exciting next step could be to experiment with something more specialised, such as a bee bank or beetle bank, to further support native insects and enhance the garden’s biodiversity even more.
Sam Bennett - 3rd Place Prize: Bee and Butterfly Wildflower Seed Mix
This allotment beautifully demonstrated how allowing nature to take the lead can create a thriving and diverse habitat. Sam’s focus on prioritising wildlife has resulted in a rich, dynamic space where plants and animals flourish with minimal intervention. It’s inspiring to see such respect for natural processes and the biodiversity that emerges from it. This thoughtful and wildlife-first approach earned a well-deserved spot in the top three. To build on this wonderful environment, creating a dedicated mini meadow area of wildflowers could help concentrate resources for pollinators and provide a striking focal point.
Trudi Harrington
This garden was a brilliant example of how a variety of habitats can work together to support a rich mix of wildlife. The combination of grass, shrubs, hedges, trees, and flowers created a layered and inviting space for nature. It was wonderful to hear about the regular hedgehog visitors and the range of birdlife making use of the feeder and bird bath – a clear sign that the garden is a safe and welcoming place for wildlife. As a next step, you might consider creating a small mini meadow area, which would provide valuable shelter and food for insects, as well as add another texture to the garden’s wildlife appeal.
Bennie Lye
This front garden was a real treat for pollinators, with a vibrant and diverse selection of nectar-rich plants. The buddleia was a clear favourite with the butterflies – it was fantastic to see it so busy during our visit! The addition of a bird feeder was a lovely touch and showed a thoughtful approach to supporting a wider range of wildlife. To build on this brilliant work, you could consider introducing a small water source, like a shallow dish or mini pond, which would provide an essential resource for both birds and insects throughout the year.
Richard Stark
This front garden was a fantastic example of how even a small space can be bursting with life. The mini wildflower meadow was clearly thriving and doing a brilliant job supporting pollinators, with a lovely mix of colour, structure, and movement. It’s inspiring to see such a commitment to biodiversity right at the front of the home. One area that could be explored further might be adding in some features to support other types of wildlife too – perhaps a small log pile, bird bath or vertical elements like a bug hotel or climbing plants for added habitat variety.
Judith Newman & Ayse Rifat
This allotment was a wonderful example of what can be achieved in just a short space of time. The floral diversity was striking, with a stunning array of colours and blooms that were absolutely buzzing with pollinators – a clear sign that the planting is already having a positive impact. With such a strong start since taking on the plot, it’s exciting to imagine how this space will continue to develop. To build on the brilliant progress so far, introducing a small water source, in addition to the shallow dish, such as a mini pond, alongside features like a log pile and add to your bug hotel in the old pallet, would help provide shelter and support for an even wider range of wildlife.
Sam Luttman
This well-established allotment stood out for its generous display of wildflowers, which created a wonderfully natural feel and attracted a wide variety of insects. Sam’s long-term commitment to supporting wildlife was clear, with thoughtful planting that balances beauty and biodiversity. The space already offers a great refuge for wildlife and is clearly thriving. To enhance it even further, adding a water source would provide additional habitat and extend the range of species the plot supports.
Best Garden/Allotment for Wildlife Category
Loddiswell Show
Why not start preparing now for the 2025 competition
.We are pleased to be supporting the Best Garden / Allotment for Wildlife category at the Loddiswell Show.
There is a trophy for the winning entry and prizes for the top three entries.
We look forward to seeing all the entries no matter how big or small!
How to Make your Garden Wildlife Friendly
On this page there will be advice on what you can do to encourage wildlife to your garden
Our Gardening for Wildlife booklet is available for download with the link below.
Wildlife Garden/Allotment Criteria
Below is a list of features the judge would hope to see - you don't need to have everything
on the list as it's not always practically possible, but the more you can tick off the better.
Wild patch (unmown grass, nettles/"weeds" allowed to grow)
Wildflowers
Herbs
Bug Hotel
Wildlife friendly veg patch (no-dig)
Pond
Shallow water dish at ground level
Bucket or container pond
Compost Heap
Wildlife shelters - log pile, leaf pile, rock or stone pile
Animal or reptile hibernaculum
Native mature tree
Bog garden
Companion planting
Nest boxes
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Bird Feeders
Plants useful to birds: seeds, berries
Hedgehog house
Hedgehog feed station
Hedgehog highway to neighbouring gardens
Bat box
Wormery
No pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, slug pellets or netting used.
Early spring, summer, autumn and winter flowering plants
Night scented flowers
Native trees or hedge planted
Peat free compost used
No dig gardening
Drought resistant plants
Water butt
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Innovative use for an old Doll's House! (Sally Jelffs at the Chilli Farm)
