GARDENA digs deep to find NZ’s gardening superheroes

Media Release

1st August 2016

GARDENA digs deep to find New Zealand’s gardening superheroes

Gardena is proud to once again lend its support to the Gardener of the Year competition, returning as gold sponsor for the second year running.

Now in its 10th year, the competition run by NZ Gardenermagazine aims to celebrate New Zealand’s unsung gardening superheroes who make a difference in their community through their gardening efforts.

Previous finalists have created wheelchair-friendly gardens; established school gardens and orchards; supported solo parents by helping them build gardens at home; and rallied their neighbors to plant vegetables, herbs and flowers on the street verge.

Readers have 21st of August to nominate passionate gardeners who have inspired them in some way this year. After reviewing all nominations, NZ Gardener magazine will reveal in their October edition, five gardening superheroes from around the country. Readers can then vote for their favourite and the finalist with the most votes will take the coveted title of 2016 Gardena Gardener of the Year. The winner will be revealed in the December issue of NZ Gardener and will receive a prize pack that includes $2,000 of Gardena watering, digging and cutting gear.

NZ Gardener’s editor Jo McCarroll says the competition is a highlight for the New Zealand gardening community and she’s thrilled to have Gardena on board as gold sponsors again. “Year after year I am blown away by the ways people are using their gardening skills to help their communities. I can’t wait to see what we dig up this year!”

Last year’s Supreme Winner and 2015 Gardena Gardener of the Year was Helen Coker, a Christchurch woman who worked tirelessly to create a garden her wheelchair-using husband Brian could enjoy after he suffered severe injuries in the 2011 Canterbury earthquake.

Helen and Brian had always enjoyed gardening together and had spent many years carefully cultivating their section in central Christchurch. But after the quake, the couple moved to a larger section in West Melton, where Helen set out to create a garden they could both enjoy together once again.

“There is no doubt that our dream of a new garden wouldn’t have been possible without all Helen’s back-breaking work” says Brian.

To nominate a gardening superhero, head to Gardena.com/nz

Ends.

© Scoop Media