This garden was named the worst in the world, but for a good reason

Editor’s Note: Call to Earth is a CNN editorial series committed to reporting on the environmental challenges facing our planet as well as demonstrating solutions to those challenges. Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to raise awareness and education on key sustainability issues and inspire positive action.

(CNN) — A dry, brown weed garden is not something many gardeners want to brag about.

But that’s exactly what the organizers of a yard competition in Sweden did when they launched the “World’s Ugliest Garden” award.

People from around the world were invited to post photos of their dehydrated grass on social media to win dubious accolades.

According to those responsible for the project, the aim was to raise awareness about “saving water globally by changing the standard of green grass”.

The contest was launched in collaboration with Hollywood actress and environmentalist Shailene Woodley, who called the contest “a great way to influence people to use less water”.

Lawns, which can require large amounts of water to maintain, are coming under increased scrutiny as climate change makes periods of drought more frequent and severe.

The global initiative was launched on the official website of Gotland, Sweden. Their website explains why: “Large amounts of water are used to irrigate lawns for aesthetic purposes. As the world warms, water scarcity is a growing problem.”

Water scarcity in urban areas is expected to affect 2.4 billion people in 2050, according to UNESCO data.

“By not watering the lawn for aesthetic reasons, we can protect the availability of groundwater,” the pageant organizers noted.

The title was awarded to Kathleen Murray, a resident of Sandford, Tasmania, Australia.

According to the organizers, Murray’s lawn “grows deep, dry furrows created by three wild bandicoots (small marsupials endemic to Australia) and does not waste a dust-covered decimeter to water.”

A press release sent to CNN Thursday by Gotland’s office added: “For that, the planet and its dwindling reserves of life-giving fluids, Kathleen, thank you, those tumultuous, tumultuous carts that mark your property.” Better.”

Murray said in a press release about her win: “I’m incredibly proud! I knew I’d have my 5 minutes of fame, even if it was the worst lawn on earth! Now I’m free to mow myself. The lawn again.”

Murray now owns a certificate and a recycled T-shirt declaring her the “proud owner of the world’s worst lawn.”

Organizers added: “Gotland aims to save water by changing the standard for mulch and showing Sweden and the world that sustainable behavior doesn’t have to be boring.”

The competition for worst grass on Gotland in 2022 was similar.