Iris, 8, wins Rolls-Royce Wildlife Garden competition

Established as part of the original landscaping when the plant was built in the early 2000s, the Wildlife Garden supports a wide variety of plants, insects, birds and animals native to the South of England. The new features are central to a rejuvenation project being carried out in partnership with Chichester District Council and the South Downs National Park Trust, to reflect changes in conservation thinking and practice.

Launched in late February, the competition proved popular. From scores of entries submitted online, the judges unanimously selected Tiggy Town by Iris, age 8, as their winner.

Tiggy Town is designed to support the UK’s wild hedgehog population, which is in critical decline. Together with beautiful little hedgehog houses (each with its own address to create a real sense of home) it has features to encourage the insects and invertebrates that hedgehogs feed on. The houses have grass roofs to attract pollinators; a leaf pile, compost heap and log pile to provide shelter for all kinds of insects, as well as splendid hedgehog hibernating places. Hedgehogs can use the shallow pond both for drinking and to take a dip, with a boardwalk to help them climb out should they become tired.

Andrew Ball, head of corporate relations at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “We are delighted to announce Tiggy Town as the winner in our Wildlife Garden competition. The judges were charmed by Iris’s ideas for a space dedicated to hedgehogs, and impressed by her creativity, imagination and attention to detail. They particularly admired her research into Rolls-Royce, and the links she made between features in her garden and the motor cars we build just a short distance away. Iris is a worthy winner; her ideas will make a real difference to our Wildlife Garden, which is so important to us, our many visitors and, above all, the huge variety of nature it supports.”

Having read that the Rolls-Royce Dawn was designed with the senses in mind, Iris has included lavender, lemon balm, roses and a fragrant camomile lawn in her design. Grass, bricks and fence add texture, with the sensory experience completed by the sound of water and the smell of damp leaves.

To attract even more pollinators, Iris searched for suitable plants and was thrilled to discover a variety of hydrangea called ‘Phantom’ – perfect for a Rolls-Royce Wildlife Garden. She also chose a beautiful ‘Rosa Dawn’ rose, and included plenty of snowdrop bulbs to celebrate the Phantom Drophead.