Your garden can be a sanctuary for nature

Next summer, the ‘Espoo’s nature-wise gardens’ competition is on the lookout for green spaces where biodiversity, ecology and comfort go hand in hand. Is your garden nature-wise?

The aim of the ‘Espoo’s nature-wise gardens’ competition is to inspire Espoo residents to recognise the ecological potential of their gardens. The competition is open to both private homeowners and housing companies, and the entries can be gardens that are in a natural state or gardens that have been carefully designed.

“The garden doesn’t have to be a finished nature paradise, as long as it features elements that support biodiversity and climate change adaptation. Such an element could be a corner that is bursting with nature,” says Aino Leskinen,  Landscape Architect at the City of Espoo. 

Landscape Architect InaWesterlund from the City of Espoo adds that a nature-wise garden can mean, for example, multi-layered vegetation, wild plants, meadows for pollinators, or making use of deadwood and brushwood fences.

“You don’t have to choose between nature and aesthetics. Meadows and multi-species plantings are increasingly being recognised for their beauty,” Westerlund notes.

The aim of the competition is to highlight concrete examples of how gardens can support biodiversity and mitigate the impacts of climate change. 

“We want to increase Espoo residents’ awareness of why gardens matter for the well-being of nature and people, and for adapting to climate change,” Leskinen says.

At the same time, the competition aims to challenge conventional ideas of what kind of garden is attractive and valuable. When we see what other people have done with their gardens, we may be inspired to try it out for ourselves.

“A garden can be a small ecosystem that provides habitats for insects and birds while serving as a space for human recreation,” Westerlund explains.

According to Westerlund, the amount and quality of vegetation in gardens are significant, especially in increasingly dense urban environments. 

The competition aims to influence people’s attitudes and everyday choices. The competition organisers want to see many different kinds of gardens from different parts of the city. 

“As the built environment expands and green space decreases, each garden plays an increasingly important role in creating a comfortable and eco-friendly urban space,” he says.

Examples of concrete solutions include insect hotels, fences made from deadwood and brushwood, and taking a multi-layered and multi-species approach to planting. Biodiversity in the built environment can also be increased through dynamic planting, which refers to allowing plants to find their own places, as well as by installing green roofs.

“In city centres, nature-wise solutions can take a different form than in areas dominated by detached houses, but there are opportunities everywhere. We hope to see new, creative solutions and different ways of implementing the nature-wise approach,” Leskinen concludes.

The competition is also open to gardens that haven’t been specifically built or renovated. Leaving nature to grow and giving space for natural processes can also be the nature-wise thing to do. 

The Nature-wise Espoo roadmap lays down the city’s goals for strengthening biodiversity. The idea of a garden competition emerged in connection with the planning of the roadmap.

The Espoo Green Factor planning tool is used to assess the amount of green space and the use of nature-friendly solutions. The tool will also be used to assess gardens entered in the competition. 

In spring, before the competition gets under way, the Luontotekoja kaupungissa (nature actions in the city) exhibition at Villa Elfvik will provide more ideas and inspiration for the development of gardens.

• Participate in the competition from 1 June to 15 July 2026. 
• You can find the rules, more detailed tips, and participation instructions on the competition website: espoo.fi/pihakisa 
• The results of the competition will be announced on Espoo Day, 29 August 2026.

Text: Susanna Cygnel.

Read also Tree bank prepares for the climate of the future.

This article was originally published in the Espoo-lehti magazine 1/2026. Read other Espoo-lehti articles.