Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has selected a hedgehog-friendly addition for its Wildlife Garden, as designed by an eight-year-old girl and winner of the British car manufacturer’s Wildlife Garden Competition.

Tiggy Town, designed by eight-year-old Iris, was selected from scores of entries submitted online in Rolls-Royce’s competition that invited children, age 5-11, to design new features for the Wildlife Garden at the home of Rolls-Royce in Goodwood.

Tucked away close to the South Downs National Park, the Rolls-Royce Wildlife Garden sits within Chichester’s proposed Strategic Wildlife Corridor.

Established as part of the original landscaping when the plant was built in the early 2000s, the Wildlife Garden supports a wide variety of plants, insects, birds and animals native to the South of England. Over 400,000 plants and trees of more than 120 species are part of our 42-acre site. The Rolls-Royce Wildlife Garden is also home to numerous wild birds and an apiary, where six specially-built hives house 250,000 English Honey Bees.

Tiggy Town, which takes its name from The Tale of Mrs Tiggywinkle, by Beatrix Potter is designed to support the UK’s wild hedgehog population, which is currently in decline. Together with little hedgehog houses (each with its own address to create a real sense of home), it has features to encourage the insects and invertebrates that hedgehogs feed on. The houses have grass roofs to attract pollinators; a leaf pile, compost heap and log pile to provide shelter for all kinds of insects, as well as splendid hedgehog hibernating places. Hedgehogs can use the shallow pond both for drinking and to take a dip, with a boardwalk to help them climb out should they become tired.

Iris also included lavender, lemon balm, roses and a fragrant camomile lawn in her design. Grass, bricks and fence add texture, with the sensory experience completed by the sound of water and the smell of damp leaves.

To attract even more pollinators, Iris searched for suitable plants and was thrilled to discover a variety of hydrangea called ‘Phantom’. She also chose a beautiful ‘Rosa Dawn’ rose, and included plenty of snowdrop bulbs to celebrate the Phantom Drophead.

Although Tiggy Town will be an exclusive gated community, protected by suitable fencing, Iris has specified plenty of gaps so that the hedgehogs can indulge their wanderlust whenever they choose.

Later this year, the award-winning designer Iris will be chauffeur-driven to the home of Rolls-Royce, then perform an official opening ceremony for the rejuvenated Garden, before viewing her winning feature in its new setting. 

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said, “Iris combines a fine artistic talent, great creativity and a detailed, thoughtful approach with a deep and obvious love of nature. Her design is delightful and will make a real difference to our Wildlife Garden.

“As we discovered with our Young Designer Competition during last year’s lockdown, children have extraordinary imagination and dreams. It is a real privilege to be allowed to share their ideas and insights, which can teach us so much about the world as they see it.”

Images Source: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She writes about lifestyle including sustainable and green living.