In the sleepy coastal village of Birdlings Flat, New Zealand, a parched patch of yellow grass has won international fame as the “World’s Ugliest Lawn.” The unassuming lawn belongs to Leisa Elliott and won the hearts of the judges, not for its beauty but for its powerful message of sustainability.
For the second consecutive year, the World’s Ugliest Lawn Competition celebrated homeowners that resisted the temptation to overwater their grass. Instead, nature took its course. The idea of the competition started in Gotland, Sweden, as an innovative initiative in promoting water conservation during a severe drought in 2022. Today, it is a global movement with a serious message behind a humorous title.
A Nature-Shaped Lawn
Elliott’s lawn epitomizes her minimalist approach to gardening. “Our drinking water comes from a well in the next spit down at Kaitorete,” she said. “For me, drinking water is meant to drink and not water the lawn.”
The lawn, shaped by the elements, has been formed in a region prone to harsh coastal winds and sparse rainfall. Resilient bushes and verdant cacti thrive around it, perfectly adapted to the arid climate of the area. “Mother Nature does the watering here,” said Elliott. “When the rains come, the transformation is breathtaking—an oasis emerging after a dry spell is a sight to behold.”.
Elliott’s spot is a haven for wild animals. His small pond had managed to attract birds like the bellbird, fantail and silver eye; bees, geckos and a variety of finches will also visit the place. The lawn in its untidy condition flourishes too.
A contest with a purpose
This contest began as a small local event to cut down on the usage of water during drought, but the competition in Gotland eventually became international because of its humor and environmental importance. “It was a fun way to come to terms with a difficult situation,” Region Gotland brand director Mimi Gibson explained to one of the organizers of the campaign. “But it has turned out to be much bigger, calling people to halt and reflect about their habits in the face of the climate crisis.”.
She saw an ad about New Zealand’s freakishly warm summer morning over breakfast. Her application, dry and crusty in texture and monochromatic in shades, caught the eye of the jury in Gotland. “It’s not the prettiest, but it tells an important story,” the judges were quoted saying. “This lawn thrives without human interference, which shows the beauty of sustainability.”
New Zealand’s Driest Lawn Wins Global ‘Ugliest Lawn’ Competition
A Growing Movement
The competition had been a resounding success: since 2022, there had been year-on-year annual water consumption in Gotland on the order of 5 percent to 7 percent. Of course, Gibson “hopes and wishes” it would inspire somebody to have their own light bulb moment of ideas about creative environment-friendly solutions.
“These are serious climate issues we face, and this contest turns anxiety into action,” he said. “You laugh at first, but then you realize that-that’s about saving water, which is no little thing.”
Elliot’s lawn may not win any prize for beauty, but its message for adaptability and conservation wins the hearts of people of all ages.
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