A NEW wildlife competition will give gardeners the opportunity to create the UK’s largest nature reserve.

The ‘Big Wildlife Garden’ (BWG) scheme is being run across the UK by the Wildlife Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in light of the Government’s recently published ‘White Paper for Nature’.

The Big Wildlife Garden competition encourages everyone to get stuck into wildlife gardening on their doorstep. Anyone is eligible to take part, including individuals, communities, businesses and schools, and no space is too small to be transformed.

It is hoped that celebrating some of the best wildlife gardens in the UK the competition will inspire people to take action and turn their gardens into wildlife havens.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust has been running its own Wildlife Friendly Gardening Scheme since 2009, and last year gave out more than 70 awards across the region to families, schools and community organisations such as Guiding groups.

The charity has also showcased wildlife-friendly gardening methods at the annual RHS Tatton Park Flower Show, including its popular ‘bug hotel’, which became one of the most photographed exhibits in 2010.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman said: “No matter how big or small, every garden is a home for wildlife, and this competition gives gardeners the chance to be recognised for what their hard work has achieved, inspiring others to do what they can to make their gardens more wildlife-friendly.

“Ultimately, gardening for nature can create not just a local home for wildlife, it can help to connect habitats together from our neighbourhoods to our national parks.”

Sue Tatman, gardening expert from the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, said: “To now have a national competition with the support of the RHS to recognise the very best in gardening for wildlife is an additional boost to those schools, families and community groups that are already making a difference.”