NZ resident Leisa Elliott from Birdlings Flat is the winner of the World's Ugliest Lawn in 2024 award. Photo: Supplied
A resident living in the small rural settlement of Birdlings Flat Canterbury, has won the title of The World's Ugliest Lawn in 2024.
The World's Ugliest Lawn competition was launched by Swedish company Gotland in 2023 to celebrate people who save water by not watering their lawns.
The 2024 winner, Leisa Elliott, lives in the settlement which is known for its fierce winds and rainfall and says she doesn't do anything to her lawn, other than letting nature take its course.
Elliot said she first heard about the competition in February last year on a breakfast show.
"I thought, oh my lawn looks just like that. I just went and took some photos and sent them through. That was in February last year and I heard that I won just after Christmas. I couldn't believe it."
Elliot said she doesn't like being wasteful.
"I don't like wasting things and I believe everything has its own natural rhythm. It was also an experiment too, because, you know, I like gardening."
However, there was no way she could consider establishing a cottage garden because of the large amount of water that would be needed to maintain it.
"It was a derelict garden when I got the place but it's just been a joy to actually just work with it. I didn't want to add cruelty to the plants. Why stick something that's going to die in a climate that was just not suitable for it?
"So basically, yeah, just nurture the plants that were here and I'll do cuttings and if it survives, it survives. It's pretty much got to do it on its own, you know, if there's no rain.
"I do have some fruit trees and I put a little bit of water on those to keep them alive. But apart from that, I don't do anything. As far as watering, it's the rain that keeps it alive," Elliot said.
Her lawn serves as a powerful statement to letting "mother nature take the reins", according to the competition judges, in a region known for its fierce coastal winds and low rainfall.
World's Ugliest Lawn 2024. Photo: Supplied / Gotland
Her lawn has muted colours and is dotted with natural weather-carved indentations.
"Her property is a testament to resilience. The ground, parched and textured by the elements, is dotted with natural, weather-carved indentations and adorned with the muted colours of a landscape that thrives without human interference," the judges said in a statement.
"Not a drop of irrigation graces her lawn-it's all up to the skies, and Leisa wouldn't have it any other way.
"This commitment to water conservation is an inspiring example of living in harmony with one's environment. By choosing to forego the unnatural pursuit of a green lawn, Leisa demonstrates a deep respect for our planet's most precious resource.
"Her lawn may not win beauty contests, but it wins hearts for its message of sustainability and adaptability."
Leisa received a preowned first-prize T-shirt, sent to her by the last year's winner.
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