Unveiling the World's Most Hideous Lawn: A Remarkable Mission
A stunning transformation for a noble cause - this once barren and parched lawn has blossomed into a captivating oasis, inspiring awe and admiration among gardeners
Editors Note: Call to Earth, a CNN editorial series dedicated to covering the environmental issues affecting our planet and the potential solutions, has joined forces with Rolex's Perpetual Planet initiative to promote awareness and education on crucial sustainability issues and encourage proactive measures.
A dry and barren patch of grass is not a feature that most gardeners would proudly showcase.
Organizers in Sweden sought out exactly this type of yard when they introduced the "Worlds Ugliest Lawn" prize. Individuals worldwide were encouraged to share photos of their parched grass on social media for a chance to win the unenviable award.
The project's goal is to increase awareness about the global importance of water conservation by promoting alternatives to green lawns. The competition was initiated in partnership with actress and environmentalist Shailene Woodley, who praised the contest as a powerful tool for encouraging water conservation.
Lawns, which often need substantial water for upkeep, are facing closer examination as climate change leads to more frequent and severe droughts.
The global initiative was announced on the official Gotland website in Sweden. Providing justification for the initiative, it stated: "Significant water quantities are utilized for lawn irrigation for purely visual purposes. With the planet heating up, water shortage is becoming an increasing concern."
By 2050, UNESCO data predicts that up to 2.4 billion people will be impacted by water scarcity in urban areas. The competition organizers stated that refraining from watering lawns for aesthetic purposes can help preserve groundwater availability.
The unlikely title has been awarded to Kathleen Murray who lives in Sandford in Tasmania, Australia.
Managers and engineers conducted the first snow survey of the year in Phillips Station, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. California is starting 2024 with a below-normal mountain snowpack, following a year of strong storms that helped pull the state out of drought. (Andrew Nixon/California Department of Water Resources via AP)
The West's winter has started with minimal rainfall, causing worries for the country's biggest reservoirs. Murrays lawn has deep, dry holes caused by three wild bandicoots, and not a single inch of dust-covered ground is being wasted on watering.
The Gotland office sent a press release to CNN on Thursday, thanking Kathleen and the bandicoots for their efforts to preserve the planet and its diminishing water supply. In response to her triumph, Murray expressed her pride and relief, joking about her "5 minutes of fame" and her freedom from ever having to mow her lawn again.
Murray proudly owns a certificate and a recycled T-shirt declaring her as the proud owner of the world's ugliest lawn. The organizers added that Gotland aims to promote water conservation by challenging the traditional green lawn aesthetic and demonstrating that sustainable practices can be vibrant and engaging, both in Sweden and worldwide.
The competition followed a similar one for the ugliest lawn in Gotland in 2022.
