The annual Galway City Spaces for Biodiversity Competition (formerly Tidy Towns Garden Competition) results have been announced. The competition is organised by Galway City Council to recognise and celebrate the efforts of residents, businesses, and public buildings putting biodiversity first in their gardens, estates, and public areas.
Amid great competition, the overall winner for Best Front Garden was Tracy Boland in Knocknacarra, which really captured with spirit of the competition with perennials spilling out onto the footpath, little homemade wildlife ponds and a raised vegetable bed. Mary Boyle from Crestwood took the prize for Best Window Boxes/Floral Display, with borders with shrubs as well as a huge selection of flowerpots, water drinkers for insects and birds and plenty of hiding places for insects and small animals. Woodlands Residents Association was awarded the Best Residential Area, under 50 houses, while Monivea Park was awarded Best Residential Area (50-200 houses). These two areas demonstrated plenty of beautiful pollinator friendly perennials.
Across the entries, gardeners showed they are keen to maintain and enhance biodiversity within our city, in line with both the national, and Galway City Council, Biodiversity Action Plan.
Fergal Cushen, Environmental Awareness Officer, Galway City Council commented, “We really want to use this long running competition to raise awareness and appreciation of the many benefits of biodiversity to all sectors to our society, and this year’s entrants really showed that there is a willingness to adapt their own areas to the benefit of biodiversity. So well done to all entrants. Collectively private gardens comprise some of the largest areas in many cities, so the work been done here is significant.”
Paula Kearney, Biodiversity Officer, Galway City Council, commented, “The launch of Hare’s Corner in spring 2024 was met with a very positive response which showed the desire is out there in people to change how they see their own land. Small ‘nudging’ initiatives like the Spaces for Biodiversity competition can continue to change the conversation. Private garden spaces represent huge potential for ‘niches for nature’ that provide a vital patchwork of connectivity for wildlife throughout the city.”
All winners have been notified and will be presented with their prizes at an awards ceremony in November 2024. For further information on the competition visit www.GalwayCity.ie/Spaces-For-Biodiversity
Galway City Council Spaces for Biodiversity 2024 List of Winners
Residential Spaces
Ballybane
1st Mary Delany
2nd Con O’Donovan
Bushy Park/ Dangan/ Circular Road
1st Tina McHugh
Headford Road
1st Sean Hynes
Knocknacarra
1st Tracy Boland (Overall Winner)
Rahoon
1st Alan Sixsmith
Renmore
1st Eileen Corcoran
2nd Tony Kelly
Salthill
1st Mary Hodkinson
Shantalla
1st Gabriel Kelly
Taylor's Hill
1st William F Hurley
Corrib Park/Newcastle
1st Margaret Gouyet
Overall Category winners:
Best Front Garden Overall Tracy Boland
Best Window Boxes Mary Boyle
Residential Areas
Less than 50 Houses Woodfield Residents Association
50-200 Houses Monivea Park