WILDLIFE-friendly gardeners are invited to enter a new competition inspired by former Wincham parish councillor Linda Moss.

Linda died last year at the age of 51, and in her will left £300 to pay for a trophy for a village wildlife garden competition.

Linda had a wildlife garden at her Wincham home, and Wincham Parish Council, on which she served for five years, is holding a competition in her memory this summer.

Linda loved wildlife, and at the end of her funeral service envelopes containing wildflower seeds were given out to people, who were also invited to take bird boxes and feeders with them.

She asked people not to send flowers for the funeral, but to spend the money on feeding the birds in their gardens or near their homes.

Villagers are invited to put forward their garden for the Wincham Wildlife-Friendly Garden Competition, the deadline for entries for which is August 1.

Following the deadline the judges will visit the gardens and chose a winner, who will receive a slate trophy.

There is no entry form, and people are asked to make brief notes about their garden, focusing on such things as shelter, food, water, breeding sites, plants, access, wildlife, visitors, successes and future plans.

People are also invited to mention anything they are proud of in relation to their garden.

The judges will draw up a shortlist and arrange a convenient time to visit the gardens and talk to the gardeners.

People are asked to include a name, address and contact number, and the judges need to arrange access to back gardens entered into the competition.

To enter write to parish clerk Naomi Morris at 22 Churchfields, Bowdon, WA14 3PJ, or drop your entry at 19 Kingfisher Grove, Wincham.

Young people are asked to take care when playing football at Linnards Lane playing field after a rowan tree planted in memory of Linda was damaged.

Cllr Annie Makepeace said it was not known whether the sapling was damaged by a ball or was deliberately snapped off.

“We would like to think it was an accident rather than vandalism, and the tree was a replacement for one which was deliberately damaged,” she said.

“We would ask people playing football not to play near the rowan trees next to the mosaic.”

The tree is to be left for the time being to see how it grows, but may be replaced.