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What the Judges Will be Looking For
Thinking about entering the competition this year?
We’ve put together a set of helpful notes to guide you in the right direction. You’ll also find plenty of additional information on our website, along with links to useful resources, websites, and articles to support your preparation.
There are 4 categories in Cultivating Ealing’s 2026 competitions:
Front gardens, micro-gardens, terraces, balconies and narrow boats
Community green spaces (community gardens and streets)
Schools
Allotments
Each of these categories has a team leader and each recruits their team of judges. Judges need to be knowledgeable about biodiversity, planting and growing.
There are judging criteria for each category, judging is always done in pairs for balance and consistency and our judges all have training sessions when they join us. Judging criteria are set out in the Terms and Conditions for each category but are set out below for clarity.
Scoring varies from section to section, but the largest percentage of the points goes to Biodiversity to recognise the focus of the competitions. Judges will be looking to see that biodiversity practices support the planning and gardening (and that it’s not just about how many birdboxes there are!).
JUDGING CRITERIA CATEGORY BY CATEGORY
Front gardens, micro-gardens, terraces, balconies and narrow boats
Entrants must not earn their living by designing or maintaining gardens for money.
The garden must be a front garden and not a private back garden and should be visible from the pavement.
Front Gardens, micro-gardens, terraces, balconies and narrow boats will be judged using the following criteria:
Design and Maintenance: Garden well planned and cared for. Creative use of space. Healthy plants, supported where needed. Attractive plant choices. Good use of colour. Vertical planting. Wild areas.
Plants and Planting: Plants for pollinators. Scented plants. Range of plants providing natural food sources though the seasons - flowers/seeds/fruit. Wildflowers/grass. Layered planting.
Habitats and Shelter: Bat, bird or bug houses, log piles, rockeries. Trees/shrubs/climbers providing shelter for nesting birds. Compost pile for beetles etc.
Sustainability features: Chemical free garden, water butts, recycling and upcycling of items, mulching with bark, gravel.
Food and Water: Plants to attract bees, birds and wildlife. Pond for amphibians. Bird bath/feeders.
Community green spaces (Community gardens and Streets)
Community gardens and streets will be judged against the following criteria:
Design and Maintenance: Well planned and cared for. Creative use of space. Healthy plants, supported where needed. Attractive plant choices. Good use of colour. Wild areas. Navigable paths. Street planters in good condition.
Community involvement/wellbeing: use of the space for calm reflection/social interaction/connection with nature. Sense of community. Regular sessions. Seating areas/public events where appropriate. Ongoing maintenance arrangements.
Habitats and Shelter: Bat, bird or bug houses, log piles, rockeries. Trees/shrubs/climbers providing shelter for nesting birds. Compost pile for beetles etc.
Sustainability features: Chemical free garden, water butt, mulching.
Water provision/collection: Water collection. Pond for amphibians. Bird bath/feeders.
Biodiverse planting: plants for pollinators. Scented plants. Plants to provide food sources through the seasons. Wildflowers, trees, bushes, shrubs for habitats for birds.
Schools
Schools will be judged using the following criteria:
Biodiversity (with inclusion of wildlife friendly plants/shelters/water/ food for wildlife etc).
Design, structure and layout of the space.
Edible Plants: Quality and variety of edibles (fruit, vegetables, herbs etc).
Inclusion of sensory elements
Learning & Wellbeing: Opportunities for breakout spaces, teaching areas and wellbeing spaces within the garden.
Curriculum: Evidence of linking the garden to the curriculum.
Child Involvement: Inclusion of children within garden activities, such as a gardening club.
Seasonal Growing & Maintenance: Consideration to seasonal growing and seasonal tasks.
Health and Safety being observed (tools secure etc). Risk assessment undertaken to note potential hazards.
Signage and labelling.
Environmental Conservation: Awareness of rainwater harvesting and conservation.
Composting & Soil Care: Awareness of mulching, composting or wormeries.
Community Involvement: Involvement of the wider community in gardening activities.
Allotments
Plots will be judged using the following criteria:
Visual impact, originality: Design, placement of structures, paths and features, ease of navigation, use of colour
Biodiversity and sustainability: water conservation, compost, wildlife friendly area, wildflowers, plants to attract pollinators/birds/wildlife, bird feeds, bug habitats
Recycling and upcycling
Evidence that biodiversity practice supports cultivation: Pond/bog area for amphibians, companion planting for example
Crops/fruit/flowers: Health of planting, disease free, quality of crops, crop rotation, succession planting, edible planting complemented by planting for other purposes
Maintenance of beds, paths, open areas, structures, plants supported and netted, trees pruned
Maintenance of soil: eg use of mulch, green manure, weed control.
Productivity of plot
Allotment Sites will be judged using the following criteria:
Welcome to site: Signage: notice boards; numbered plots; starter plots; cleanliness.
Maintenance of plots/paths/open areas/sheds; greenhouses/communal areas. Variety and health of plants; health of soil. productivity of plots, variety of vegetables, fruit, flowers, herbs. Little evidence of overgrown plots.
Communal areas: Community areas - seats/benches, meeting area; community building; shared compost and/or woodchip area; provision of communal tools.
Biodiversity features: Provision for wildlife - long grass/hedges with berries/trees/wildlife corridors. Ponds; wild/wildlife friendly areas; wildflower areas; bug habitats; beehives; water conservation; hedgehog houses; bird boxes. Composting.
Community involvement: Community activities involving local groups such as schools, Brownies/Scouts, local residents.
Plot occupation, including starter plots.
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