The World's Ugliest Lawn 2024
A global initiative to save water by changing the norm of green lawns
Announcing the winner of The World’s Ugliest Lawn 2024
Congratulations Leisa Elliot from Birdlings Flat, New Zealand!
Leisa Elliott and her winning lawn
The jury’s motivation
Leisa Elliott, located along the rugged Canterbury coastline, has embraced a bold philosophy: let Mother Nature take the reins. In a region known for its fierce coastal winds and low rainfall, Leisa’s lawn is a powerful statement.
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 colors of a landscape that thrives without human interference. 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.
Congratulations and thank you, Leisa, for transforming an ”ugly” lawn into a global symbol of environmental stewardship!
HONORABLE MENTION
Emilia Vallara’s untamed garden in Brescia, Italy.
The jury’s motivation
Nestled in the heart of Brescia, Emilia Vallara’s garden is a celebration of nature left entirely to its own devices. This rugged terrain, with its hidden stones, unpredictable holes, and untamed vegetation, offers a wild charm that defies traditional gardening norms. Never watered nor trimmed, the garden thrives solely on rain, embracing the raw beauty of self-sustaining wilderness.
Yet, this untouched haven is a testament to Emilia’s commitment to letting nature take its course.
Congratulations, Emilia, on creating a garden that truly embodies the untamed spirit of the land, where nature thrives unbridled and unapologetically!
”This challenge is a great way to influence people to use less water”
Shailene Woodley
DO YOU WANT TO ENTER THIS YEAR’S CONTEST?
It’s easy! Send a photo of your ugly dry lawn to uglylawn@gotland.se
Entries are open until December 25th 2025.
WHY DOES GOTLAND CHALLENGE THE WORLD TO SHARE IMAGES OF UGLY DRY LAWNS?
Huge amounts of water are used to water lawns for aesthetics. As the world gets warmer, water scarcity is a growing problem. UNESCO is projecting water scarcity in urban areas to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.7–2.4 billion people in 2050. By not watering lawns for aesthetic reasons, we can protect the availability of groundwater.
This is why Gotland in Sweden created the annual The World’s Ugliest Lawn contest in 2023, with the aim of saving water on a global scale by changing the norm for green lawns. It was launched together with the actress and environmentalist Shailene Woodley.
Gotland, Sweden’s biggest island, regularly experiences drought and water scarcity. Saving water is a constant priority.
The origin of the initiative is the local contest ”Gotland’s Ugliest Lawn” which is held annually on our island since 2022.
Together with other water-saving initiatives the contest has helped reduce the yearly domestic water consumption on the island with 6.4% since 2021. The water use per household on Gotland was in 2023 at an all-time low (source: Gotland waterworks).
The World’s Ugliest Lawn contest is our way to inspire positive change globally and show that sustainability doesn’t have to be boring.
The initiative had generated an earned reach of 2.3 billion impressions since 2022 without any bought media.
Contact:
Mimmi Gibson
Director of Brand, Region Gotland, Sweden
mimmi.gibson@gotland.se
+46 70 083 22 99
