Mayo girl scoops prize in Woodie’s Budding Gardeners Competition

A girl from County Mayo has been announced a runner-up in this year’s Woodie’s Budding Gardeners competition. Now in its fifth year, the Woodie’s Budding Gardeners campaign encourages children across Ireland to flex their green fingers by taking on an exciting garden project at home or in school while learning about the importance of plants along the way.

This year's theme was "Plant-a-Pot" where children were tasked with creating their own potted creations. Woodie's garden expert and judge of the competition, Brian Burke had a tough role judging this year’s entries, but it was twelve-year-old Lydia Urquhart who won a runner-up prize with her ‘The Love Pot’ entry, winning a €500 Woodie’s gift card.

Budding Gardener’s judge Brian added: “It was clear Lydia really enjoyed working on this project. She learnt to plant different plants of texture and shape and bring patterns together. She also learnt to use different heights of plants in her pot plant and how to use different colours of seedlings to add variety and interest. A lovely project and a worthy winner!”

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Speaking about the innovative and creative entries from this year’s Budding Gardeners competition Brian said: "I say it every year, but judging the Woodie’s Budding Gardeners competition is always one of my most challenging tasks. The innovation, creativity, and imagination on display from Ireland’s young gardeners is phenomenal, and the level of work and attention to detail never fails to impress.

“There were entries from every corner of the country with some real head turning improvised pots, old paint tins, watering cans, old wellies, woven baskets, colanders, and old plastic bottles. It was great to see such imagination on display, along with the colourful array of flowers, herbs, veggies and fruit. Huge congratulations to our winner and runners-up, but to everyone who took part, well done on all of your amazing work, and we hope to see you back next year."

For more information about Budding Gardeners, see woodies.ie/community/woodies-budding-gardeners.