South Derbyshire District Council has opened entries for its 2026 housing gardening competition, inviting council tenants in Swadlincote, Derbyshire, to showcase their outdoor spaces for a chance to win local recognition. The Can You Dig It? scheme is designed to encourage tidier neighbourhoods and give residents the opportunity to win the title of Best Overall Garden 2026.
There are six different types of entries available, including individual gardens, shared community spaces, vegetable patches, and window boxes or planters. The council has also included a specific category for children and an award for the best street in the district.
Tenants who wish to take part must submit their entries by 30 May 2026. Official judging will then take place in July 2026 when the plants are in full bloom, with prizes and results to be shared in a council newsletter later in the year.
This annual competition is part of a larger effort by the council to improve how it works with people living in its 3,000 homes. The push for better resident involvement follows a 2024 report from the Regulator of Social Housing which highlighted the need for the local authority to improve its housing services.
