Ugly lawn contest proves that the grass isn't always greener
The Guardian|September 30, 2023
Dry, brown grass is no longer a source of shame on one Swedish island where people have been competing over the "ugliest lawn" in an attempt to save water- and it seems the trend is spreading
Phoebe Weston
Ugly lawn contest proves that the grass isn't always greener

"It was the easiest competition to win, I didn't have to do anything," said Stina Östman, a resident of Sweden's largest island, Gotland, who has mixed feelings about her victory. 

"It's always nice to win, even if you are the worst," she said. Judges described it as "a very ugly and in no way useful lawn- unless you're a sparrow".

Gotland's ugliest lawn contest was created last year because of an irrigation ban that prevented residents from watering their lawns.

The purpose of the competition is to make people aware of water shortages on the island, which is in the middle of the Baltic Sea. An OECD report last year said water availability in Gotland was expected to decrease by 13% between 2021 and 2050.

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