Garden of the Month award

The Garden of the Month award is an extension to our annual gardening competitions to showcase the innovation and creativity of war gardeners throughout the year. Every month, our team visits home gardens in nine camps across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and selects a ‘Garden of the Month’ winner. We look for creative flair, a passion for gardening, innovative planting ideas and a commitment to filling the available space with plants.⁣ ⁣
⁣⁣
A special plaque to display at the winner’s home shelter, a selection of seeds and a lemon tree, are gifted to each winning gardener. In addition, a sign is displayed in each winning garden for anyone passing to see – the sign is temporary and will be moved on to the next Garden of the Month winner within each camp.⁣⁣⁣

2025

March

Bersive 1 camp: Mustafa Khalaf Ajeel. A well-maintained garden notable for its diverse plant life, reflecting the owner’s consistent attention and care.

Bersive 2 camp: Mansah Khaled Khader. This month’s standout for its impressive mix of trees and plant species, making full use of the available space.

Domiz 1 camp: Ronya Mohamed Shaabo. Compact yet rich in variety, this garden stands out for its collection of trees and roses. The owner’s ongoing engagement in LTT activities adds to its merit.

Domiz 2 camp: Shikhmous Ahmed Mahmoud. Selected for its thoughtful layout, this garden frames its trees elegantly and uses white stones to enhance visual appeal.

Essian camp: Jahan Hajji Khalaf. Clever use of limited space to grow vibrant roses, for both beauty and fragrance.

Gwailan camp: Fadel Khalil Ali. Recognised to acknowledge the owner’s ongoing efforts in upkeep and care, making it a consistent green space.

Kabartu 1 camp: Isha Khdeda Badal. Selected for the owner’s dedication to cultivating both flowers and trees, bringing structure and colour to the space

Kabartu 2 camp: Amira Ahmed Khalaf. Features a notable selection of rose varieties and seasonal blooms, adding richness and contrast.

Khanki camp: Layla Murad Hassan. A standout example of small-space gardening, where vertical planting and varied plant life adds colour and character to the home’s surroundings.

February 2025

Bersive 1 camp: Nawaf Joko Hofo. This month’s camp winner has significantly enhanced the space through thoughtful planting and a clear passion for flowers.

Bersive 2 camp: Doaa Muhammad Rasho. A standout this month for its range of trees and the cultivation of over five types of vegetables.

Domiz 1 camp@ Laila Galal Omar. Selected for its wide range of beautiful flowers and trees, reflecting the owner’s strong interest in agriculture.

Domiz 2 camp: Fadi Sulieman Ibrahim. Recognised for its practical layout, which the owner uses effectively for growing vegetables.

Essian camp: Afrah Bakr Murad. Afrah and her father grow winter vegetables with care and skill, making productive use of their garden to support their daily needs.

Gawilan camp: Mayada Muhammad Nabi. Chosen this month to recognise the gardener’s consistent interest in agriculture and to encourage her continued efforts.

Kabartu 1 camp: Khairo Omar Heggi. Selected for the gardener’s dedication to planting olive trees and as a gesture of support for his ongoing commitment.

Kabartu 2 camp: Hala Elias Saleh. Distinguished by its focused and successful cultivation of many rose varieties.

Khanki camp: Hadi Dawod. Acknowledged for its use of recycled materials, diverse plant selection and the inclusion of different trees.

January 2025

Bersive 1 camp: Khalil Jomer. He transformed his tent area into an attractive garden, using flowers and modest trees to create a pleasant and inviting space.

Bersive 2 camp: Doaa Hamid Khalaf. A deserving winner this month, thanks to its diverse collection of trees and plants, offering both variety and visual appeal.

Domiz 1 camp: Saad Ahmad Hussein. This garden features a lovely fountain surrounded by a rich mix of trees and roses. The owner takes particular pride in planting and maintaining them with care.

Domiz 2 camp Riwan Abdullah Ali. This garden was chosen for its creative elements, including a water fountain, trees planted along the garden wall, and a bird hut designed to welcome local wildlife.

Essian camp: Noura Omar Heggi. The garden includes a well-designed space for growing plants, which is thoughtfully managed and well maintained.

Gawilan camp: Shafan Abd El Aziz Mahmoud. Chosen this month in recognition of her passion for agriculture and to encourage her continued efforts.

Kabartu 1 camp: Muhammad Ahmed Muslim. Selected as a gesture of encouragement, recognising his keen interest in agriculture.

Kabartu 2 camp: Dilshad Fawzan Khalid. A visually appealing garden enhanced by the use of climbing plants, adding height and texture to the space.

Khanki camp: Khalida Shamo. Selected for its neat layout and overall appearance. The owners are consistent in maintaining cleanliness and regularly prune the trees and plants.

December 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Mizban Khalaf Khadida. Chosen for his interest in cultivating trees and ornamental roses.

Bersive 2 amp: Khidr Rasho. This month’s winner was selected in recognition of his interest in agriculture and as encouragement for his continued involvement.

Domiz 1 camp: Sultana Hassan Murad. A spacious and well-kept garden filled with trees and roses. The owner has a clear interest in agriculture and is a regular participant in LTT activities.

Domiz 2 camp: Saad Abdo Khalil. Chosen for its use of recycled materials, diverse plantings, and the addition of a small flower-adorned waterfall that adds structure and interest to the space.

Essian camp: Nisreen Gharib Murad. Nisreen has transformed the front of her home in the camp with a display of roses and plants, creating an attractive and well-maintained façade.
Gawilan camp: Shirin Hussain Jagan. Notable for its well-planned layout and the variety of flowers and trees planted throughout the space.

Kabartu 1 camp: Sido Rashid Murad. Selected to recognise his interest in agriculture and to encourage his continued efforts.

Kabartu 2 camp: Jihan Hussein Ali. The front of her tent has been planted with a shade tree and winter roses, adding both cover and seasonal colour.

Khanki camp: Eido Rasho. This garden features hand-painted elements, the use of recycled materials, and a variety of plants and flowers that enhance its overall appearance.

November 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Osman Qasim Hajji.
A stunning garden, inside and out, with roses creating a peaceful and harmonious space.

Bersive 2 camp: Shatha Ibrahim Hassan.
A small but wonderful garden outside her shelter – a perfect example of how to make a big impact with a compact space.

Domiz 1 camp: Najah Osman Osman.
A compact yet striking garden filled with an impressive variety of roses.

Domiz 2 camp: Adnan Aziz Bader.
A beautifully organised garden featuring a mix of plants, a green lawn and a creative roof made from branches.

Essian camp: Yana Fahad Mashko.
A fantastic space featuring well-established trees and a colourful mix of flowers and plants — a perfect spot for family time outdoors.

Gawilan camp: Nadia Hussein Osman.
A vibrant courtyard garden with flower beds bursting with orange and green.

Kabartu 1 camp: Ahmed waadallah Khalil.
An inspiring showcase of agricultural diversity, full of life and growth.

Kabartu 2 camp: Ronaida Hassan Murad.
This garden combines ornamental flowers and fruit trees, bringing beauty and productivity together.

Khanki camp: Murad Haji.
A tidy and thriving garden, lush and green even in the winter months, with a wide variety of trees and plants.

October 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Mirza Hajji Mohammad.
Mirza’s garden is filled with an array of roses, bringing colour and energy to the camp.

Bersive 2 camp: Adel Ali Sisi.
Adel’s garden is packed with a mix of flowers, plants and fruits. It’s a diverse and productive space that showcases the potential of well-maintained gardens.

Domiz 1 camp: Qahra Abdi Omar. Qahra has created a stunning and well-maintained garden, featuring a variety of trees and beautiful roses. She has a deep love for agriculture and gardening.

Domiz 2 camp: Ragheb Zubyer Ibrahim.
Ragheb’s garden combines functionality and aesthetics, with many flower beds, plants and trees.

Essian camp: Khedida Hamou Sarhan. Khedida has thoughtfully planted greenery in front of his house to shield it from dust and sunlight, while also enhancing the surrounding view with natural beauty.

Gawilan camp: Hazar Bahjat Suleiman.
Hazar’s focus on planting roses and trees adds greenery and vibrancy to the area.

Kabartu 1 camp: Mujahid Khader Hassan.
Mujahid’s garden is a great example of how small green spaces can improve the surroundings. It’s an excellent initiative to encourage others in the community to start their own gardens.

Kabartu 2 camp: Hajji Elias Kars.
Hajji grows a mix of vegetables and pomegranate for home cooking.

Khanki camp: Fryal Edo Haji.
Fryal’s garden stands out for its variety of plants and trees, adding value to the camp’s appearance. Her creative use of recycled materials makes the garden both practical and eco-friendly.

September 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Raed Qasim Kajo. Chosen for his dedication to agriculture and his ongoing efforts to grow and maintain his garden.

Bersive 2 camp: Fatima Jassim Mohammed. Recognised for its diverse selection of trees and plants, showcasing a well-rounded and thriving garden.

Domiz 1 camp: Ahmed Mohamed Ali Sayed. A regular participant in LTT activities, this gardener has created a small but well-organised space with a variety of flowers.

Domiz 2 camp: Adnan Majed Haj. A comfortable garden with a mix of colourful flowers, fruit trees and grasses that make it an inviting space to relax.

Essian camp: Hazem Heggi Eido. A well-maintained garden right at his doorstep, featuring a variety of trees, plants and flowers that are carefully cared for.

Gwailan camp: Fatima Muhammad Qasim. Recognised for her long-standing interest in agriculture, with a focus on growing a range of vegetables and roses.

Kabartu 1 camp: Suhail Sido Hajji. Awarded for its lush green space and ongoing efforts to keep the garden healthy and vibrant.

Kabartu 2 camp: Afia Theban Issa. Notable for its creative use of recycling and making the most of the available space.

Khanki camp: Layla Murad. Selected for its potential and the motivation to continue developing the garden, which already features a nice mix of plants and trees.

July 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Helo Jalal Qasim. This garden impressed us with its variety of trees, cleanliness and thoughtful arrangement.

Bersive 2 camp: Hawass Elias Abdo. The garden is a true delight, featuring a vibrant mix of trees, vegetables and flowers.

Domiz 1 camp: Sherzad Fahmi Hussein. His garden is impeccably tidy, featuring a beautiful variety of trees and roses. He’s also mastered the art of recycling.

Domiz 2 camp: Abdalslam Tufiq Abdi. We chose this garden because it not only grows vegetables and olive trees but also serves as a vital source of livelihood.

Essian camp: Karima Qasim Jassim. Karima built a natural roof using grapevines instead of iron, providing her family with shade and delicious summer grapes!

Gwailan camp: Nairouz Othman Taj Aldin. She maximised a small space to grow vegetables, adding beauty to the street and benefiting the community.

Kabartu 1 camp: Habib Muslim Ramadan. This garden stood out due to its diverse range of vegetables and innovative use of seeds.

Kabartu 2 camp: Shaima Shukr Hassan. She creatively used plastic cans for planting, making the most of her small garden space.

Khanki camp: Ibrahim Jirdo Shamo. It was selected as the monthly winner for its stunning beauty, as well as the abundance and diversity of plants within it.

April 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Jovan Hazem Heggi. Selected for its beautiful roses and a nice mix of trees, creating a well-rounded and inviting space.

Bersive 2 camp: Yousef Besso. Recognised for its wide variety of flowers, plants and trees, with a clear passion for agriculture shining through.

Domiz 1 camp: Shadia Abd El Rahman Shahin. Chosen for her well-arranged and carefully maintained garden. She’s also a regular participant in LTT activities, and we hope this recognition encourages her continued efforts.

Domiz 2 camp: Fatima Ahmed Hussain. Chosen for its variety of flowers and trees, as well as the neat and organised layout of the garden.

Essian camp: Nayef Yousef Sheikho. This garden is packed with plants and designed to be a welcoming space for his family. He spends a lot of time here, making it a true extension of his home.

Gawilan camp: Fawaz Khalil Ali. A lovely garden, selected as a show of support and encouragement for his gardening efforts.

Kabartu 1 camp: Saadoun Qolo Darwish. Selected for its beautiful, fragrant roses that create a delightful atmosphere.

Kabartu 2 camp: Khatun Rasho Khalaf. A peaceful garden filled with beautiful flowers that bring a sense of comfort and tranquillity.

Khanki camp: Elham Edo. This garden features a range of beautiful plants that enhance the house’s aesthetic. The family also uses recycling in their planting, adding an eco-friendly touch.

March 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Joko Hofu. A beautiful and clean garden full of various roses.

Bersive 2 camp: Murad Kousa Darwish. This garden has many different types of trees, plants and flowers.

Domiz 1 camp: Berivan Abdullah Murad. We chose this garden for the neat and tidy arrangement and the gardener’s interest and love for gardening.

Domiz 2 camp: Nafia Mohammed Morad. A beautiful garden, with its variety of trees and beds full of flowers.

Essian camp: Atto Murad Khalaf. This is a quiet place to sit with the family and has many pretty plants.

Gwailan camp: Issa Ahmed Hassan. This gardener loves agriculture and we encourage him to take care of his garden.

Kabartu 1 camp: Saleh Qasim Ali. Despite the narrow space, this is a beautiful garden with the planting of the grape tree.

Kabartu 2 camp: Barakat Khader Zandeen. The garden contains many varieties of different trees and plants.

Khanki camp: Elham Kaiser. We love seeing the recycling used in planting and the different types of flowers and plants.

February 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Khaled Barakat. A beautiful garden despite the lack of space.

Bersive 2 camp: Yusra Barakat Ami. Great to see many different types of trees, vegetables and roses.

Domiz 1 camp: Kamla Ibrahim Suleiman. This gardener’s intense love of gardening and recycling really shows.

Domiz 2 camp: Batool Ali Abdo. We chose this garden because it is well designed, planted with trees and flowers, and surrounded by tidy fencing.

Essian camp: Khairia Hajji Murad. A beautiful space full of flowers and a nice place for the whole family to spend time together in.

Gawilan camp: Mohamed Salah Eddin Farho. This gardener loves agriculture and gardening, and it’s great to see the many planted upcycled pots, alongside the flower bed and sculpture.

Kabartu 1 camp: Fatemeh Karim Khalaf. A wonderful abundance of flowers.

Kabartu 2 camp: Nawal Nozat Yousef. A lovely small garden alongside a tented shelter where the gardener’s seed sowing has resulted in healthy plants.

Khanki camp: Fahad Faqir. The garden is surrounded by a colourful green fence and is beautifully arranged with some different trees and plants.

January 2024

Bersive 1 camp: Barzan Murad Shibo. Although it’s not the time for vegetables, this gardener is very interested in cultivating them and has made a great start.

Bersive 2 camp: Hassan Kousa Darwish. Great to see so many different types of flowers and fruit trees here, including roses, grapes, figs, pomegranates and peaches.

Domiz 1 camp: Bushra Abdul razzaq Al-Hima. Beautiful pink flowers greet us. We chose this garden for its diversity in flowers and trees and the gardener’s love of agriculture.

Domiz 2 camp: Riad Mahmoud Hasso. The garden is beautifully designed with a hand-built seating area and variety of trees and flowers.

Essian camp: Shaaban Khader Coca. This is a pleasant space to take a pause and enjoy the surrounding plants and flowers.

Gawilan camp: Amal Muhammad Tamr. This gardener enjoys planting her garden with flowers and trees.

Kabartu 1 camp: Safouk Hajji Qasim. Lots of plants have been grown from seed in upcycled plastic containers on the edges of the tent.

Kabartu 2 camp: Faiza Ahmed Hussein. Cheerful zinnias and other winter flowers are growing well here, despite the limited space.

Khanki camp: Joko Hamu Rasho. The pink hand-built benches look great with the various green plants. We love the vertical planting and decorative butterflies that adorn the walls.

December 2023

We took a break from awarding the Garden of the Month award this month so that our team could enjoy a holiday.

November 2023

Bersive 1 camp: Hazem Hajji Sido. An incredibly well-ordered space filled with attractive red and pink roses.

Bersive 2 camp: Ezzat Ibrahim Murad. Lovely zinnias and other flowers fill the borders, making for a beautiful view.

Domiz 1 camp: Amina Ismail Ismail. This small area is flourishing with established trees, shrubs and beautiful flowers.

Domiz 2 camp: Masoud Nori Mahmoud Golan. This garden was chosen for its arrangement and the beauty of the colours of its roses and other flowers. We also loved the central feature full of roses and green canopy.

Essian camp: Zkra shro eliaes. Beautiful trees and plants cover the façade of the house.

Gawilan camp: Ferial Sheikho Ahmed. This courtyard space is full of upcycled pots containing many different plants and flowers.

Kabartu 1 camp: Mohamed Ibrahim Hassan. This gardener has an interest in agriculture shown by their large-scale cultivation from seed.

Kabartu 2 camp: Zina Ali Khalaf. This is a stunning winter garden with zinnias of all colours plus other shrubs.

Khanki camp: Ahmed Iskan. The pathway alongside the tented shelter is brimming with many beautiful varieties of flowers, plants and trees. The gardener has also planted in upcycled pots which are neatly displayed at the rear.

October 2023

Bersive 1 camp: Salem Joko. A beautiful and clean garden with a wonderful green canopy.

Bersive 2 camp: Falah Hassan Eido. One of the walls of the tented shelter is covered with many types of beautiful flowers.

Domiz 1 camp: Hanaa Youssef Antar. It’s clear to see this gardener’s love for and interest in gardening with such a variety of plants and trees.

Domiz 2 camp: Husssin Mohammed Abd alhnan. This garden was chosen for the beauty of its greenery, diversity in its flowers and tubs full of flowers.

Essian camp: Khdr Saado Khdr. This garden provides a wonderful view from one end of the camp. All the green and colourful plants are organised well.

Gawilan camp: Kaljain Mustafa Ali. This gardener has taken great care to create a beautiful green space at her home.

Kabartu 1 camp: Hamad Saado Ghadban. The garden was chosen for its abundance of vegetables and plants being cultivated.

Kabartu 2 camp: Shawkat Abdul hamid Hussein. Because there is no place to plant in the ground, the gardener has recycled containers to grow plants and flowers.

Khanki camp: Maher Qassim. What a cheerful design – we love all the colour used in this beautiful vertical planting scheme. Old vehicle tyres and wood offcuts have been upcycled to great effect here, showcasing a range of winter flowers.

July 2023

June 2023

May 2023

Bersive 1 camp: Khader Suleiman Yousef. Established trees and plants border the lush green lawn in this garden – a simple but beautiful well arranged design.

Bersive 2 camp: Jihad Saro Murad. This newly established garden is extremely promising particularly because Jihad loves gardening.

Domiz 1 camp: Abdul ghani Issa Hajo. The wonderful canopy provides welcome shade and there’s a good variety of trees and flowers.

Domiz 2 camp: Najah Ismail Hasan. A carefully considered large area planted with trees and a well-built roofing structure to train a grape plant.

Essian camp: Sami Sabri Joko. A beautiful garden full of established trees, plants and flowers. Plus it smells divine!

Kabartu 1 camp: Khalaf Sido. Such neat planting. We love the beds which circle around the tent.

Kabartu 2 camp: Nawal Nozat Yousef. There’s a wonderful selection of plants in this garden and it’s clear to see Nawal’s desire to further develop the space.

Khanki camp: Mahlo Murad. We love the raised borders and how this garden is full of creatively recycled materials. There are lots of lovely flowers, vegetables and herbs too.

Gawillan camp: Mariam Turki Issa. A wonderful courtyard garden where the green really brightens the grey concrete. We love the vertical planting display made from an old pallet.

April 2023

Bersive 1 camp: Kamal Hajji Kelli. What a lovely green view this tented shelter has of the many trees and flowers growing outside the front door.

Bersive 2 camp: Hussein Elias Hajji. So many pots! We love the creativity of this small area, in particular the fun yellow vertical planters. It’s brilliant to see Hussein’s efforts in propagating so many plants.

Domiz 1 camp: Hiro Mdni Hamo. We love the order and tidiness of this tiny space: a little oasis of calm.

Domiz 2 camp: Mahmoud Hasan Sharef. So much green – and yellow! We love all the plants and the well established trees. Mahmoud says he loves nature and vegetables.

Essian camp: Saeed Murad Jardo. This space is beautiful with its small trees and Saeed says he spends most of his time with family and friends here.

Gawillan camp: Omar Zaidan Mslm. We love the vertical planting display made from plastic bottles and other upcycled materials which are brimming with plant life, as well as the myriad of plant plots in this courtyard area.

Kabartu 1 camp: Wasfi Al-Din Murad Suleiman. It’s great to see this well thought out garden – the rendered walls and raised lawn area with shrubs which are all growing well.

Kabartu 2 camp: Roza Ahmed Saleh. It’s clear to see Roza’s interest in agriculture and how the space is being developed.

Khanki camp: Saido Edo Haji. We love the many thriving flowers, trees and vegetables in Saido’s garden.

March 2023

Bersive 1 camp: Malo Khalaf Misho. This small garden consists of trees planted in a beautiful arrangement showing great attention in front of the tented shelter.

Bersive 2 camp: Daoud Sliman Joko. What a great start! And the family have exciting plans to further develop their newly established space.

Domiz 1 camp: Omr Saado Alo. This is such a beautiful garden. We love the double borders dotted with trees and shrubs, upcycled fencing and pergola on the tidy lawn adding further interest to the space.

Domiz 2 camp: Basra Ahmad Ahmad. This well-organised garden has a wonderful variety of established trees, vegetables and flowers.

Essian camp: Myasar Khalaf Haso. It’s clear to see this gardener’s great love for agriculture – plants and vegetables are found in all corners of his residence, both inside and out. The hand-built blue fence, shown here, really brightens the space.

Gawillan camp: Aisha Shekh Mustafa. This gardener has a passion for gardening shown by all the different plant varieties growing in the borders and upcycled plastic containers.

Kabartu 1 camp: Mosa Ali Abas. Many vegetable and herb seeds have been sown in this recently established garden – an excellent effort and we’re looking forward to revisiting the space at a later date.

Kabartu 2 camp: Shahab Ahmad Khlo. A well-organised garden complete with a lush green lawn and many different plant varieties.

Khanki camp: Asia Jamal Bakir. These roses, planted in a beautiful and tidy way, bring so much beauty to the home.

February 2023

Bersive 1 camp: Muhannad Mohsen Ajeel. We love the beautiful vertical planting display and cheerful turquoise upcycled plastic pots.

Bersive 2 camp: Aziz Mahmoud Matto. A beautiful small garden in the corner of a tent which is incredibly tidy with different types of trees.

Domiz 1 camp: Ilham Abd El Halim. We chose this garden due to it being so visually striking. The design has been well thought out and the creative flair here reflects the personality of the gardener.

Domiz 2 camp: Bankin Taher Ibrahim. This large garden is home to many fruits and vegetables, such as grapes and olives. It’s clear to see the gardener’s keen interest in agriculture and his desire to look after and ‘green’ this space.

Essian camp: Maher Murad Khalaf. This gardener has started cleaning and renovating his garden to grow roses and vegetables and we’re looking forward to seeing how the space develops.

Gawillan camp: Heveen Abd El Rahman. Wonderful to see the progress made in this space and plans for the garden’s future development.

Kabartu 1 camp: Kamiran Hamed Mahmoud. This gardener has developed the space well, sectioning different areas for different uses for the family and geese to enjoy.

Kabartu 2 camp: Miqdad Murad Qasim. This gardener makes excellent use of the empty space at the entrance to his tent, with established trees and shrubs.

Khanki camp: Khalida Shamo. A garden that is constantly developing and renewing, as it has various types of flowers and plants that are rarely found in other gardens.

January 2023

Bersive 1 camp: Amin Ali Murad
Bersive 2 camp: Khder Brjes Khedr
Domiz 1 camp: Suhaila Abdulaziz Arafo
Domiz 2 camp: Hasan Mohamed Amin
Essian camp: Fadel Khudaida Fadel
Gawillan camp: Abdul Wahab Ahmed Hussein
Kabartu 1 camp: Najma Suleiman Hassan
Kabartu 2 camp: Sherif Aman Haji
Khanki camp: Mahir Qassim

December 2022

We took a break from awarding the Garden of the Month award this month so that our team could enjoy a holiday.

November 2022

Bersive 1 camp: Naji Abdullah Hassan. A beautiful variety of more than ten different plants, trees and flowers in this small space. It’s great to see this gardener’s passion for greening the space.

Bersive 2 camp: Hai Ato Abbas. Wonderful to see the bright blooms of the flowers in this garden.

Domiz 1 camp: Slava Abbas Ahmad. Fantastic to see all the plants in upcycled containers, including old vehicle tyres which have been painted.

Domiz 2 camp: lamya Ahmed Aboo. Despite the small space, the gardener has done a great job with the decoration. The hand-built feature makes a wonderful focal point for the garden.

Essian camp: Zaid Khalaf Khdhir. We love how well designed and tidy this garden is.

Gawillan camp: Khalid Mohamad Al Ali. With a lush green lawn and established shrubs in the borders, this garden will go from strength to strength.

Kabartu 1 camp: Ahmad Saadon Gathban. This garden was established only recently and we encourage the gardener to keep up the excellent work and grow more plants.

Kabartu 2 camp: Nofa Salah Abbas. We love the delicate lilac flowers and other shrubs in this garden’s borders which are being well looked after.

Khanki camp: Majida Hamid Haji. Wonderful archway of grape vines to walk through, with lots of other lovely potted plants too.

October 2022

Bersive 1 camp: Khafshi Saado Shahin. This is a beautiful area with many varieties of trees and plants, including pomegranate.

Bersive 2 camp: Fahmi Ali Majdi. This garden includes well established trees, such as almond, and different vegetables are being cultivated.

Domiz 1 camp: Jasim Mohammed Khalifa. We love seeing the colourful ‘fish lips’ (snapdragons) in addition to several other plants and trees in this large space.

Domiz 2 camp: Nowaf Husssin Bshow. Great vertical planting – the lush green provides privacy and beautiful colour at the shelter’s entrance.

Essian camp: Khalida Qasim Mieza. This tiny space is thriving. Fantastic to see the well established tree and pretty flowers in bloom.

Gawillan camp: Shafaaa Khalil Khalaf. It’s clear to see that this space is maintained by a passionate gardener – there are so many pots and plants growing and everything is so well organised and tidy.

Kabartu 1 camp: Faiza Asaad Khalaf. There are several varieties of trees here, providing both beauty and shade.

Kabartu 2 camp: Barakat Khdhr Zndin. Despite the small size of this garden, there are many beautiful plants and different types of trees.

Khanki camp: Salim Sabri. This garden has been well thought out in line with the family’s needs – the pergola over the green lawn provides shade over the children’s play equipment, there is a dedicated space for the washing line and there are several beds to grow different plants and vegetables.

June – September 2022

We took a break from awarding the Garden of the Month award while our annual gardening competitions and cooking competitions were in progress.

May 2022

Bersive 1 camp: Hazim Saido Jelka. This garden at the front of the tent is well organised and tidy. It contains more than ten varieties of plants, trees and flowers including roses.

Bersive 2 camp: Karwan Marwan Khdeda. The different types of flowers here,  including nasturtiums, bring psychological comfort to the gardener. The planting and fencing with stencilled leaf pattern are beautiful.

Domiz 1 camp: Khadija Hussin Abdo. Lots of wonderful diversity in the planting. The roses and daisies are beautiful.

Domiz 2 camp: Noraldin Hussin. Despite the narrow space, the gardener is growing a lovely variety of plants and flowers which have been lovingly arranged. There’s also a beautifully designed small waterfall.

Essian camp: Mardin Saad. The colourful pomegranate flowers and plants brighten the tent and entrance to the shelter and reflect the gardener’s great love for growing.

Gawillan camp: Glijhan Mihammed Bakr. Wonderful neat and tidy shelving with upcycled pots, as well as trailing vines that bring colour and interest to the area. This gardener shares that she has loved planting since childhood and has a particular passion for cultivating basil.

Kabartu 1 camp: Salim Barakat Qasim. The garden here is an incredibly narrow space and the gardener has done well to grow such a diverse range of trees and roses which are now well established.

Kabartu 2 camp: Idris Sliman Hassan. This garden was chosen because of its arrangement and its beauty. Despite the small size of the area, a great amount of care has been taken to plant trees and roses of all kinds.

Khanki camp: Ibrahim Jirdo. This garden is very nicely organised and tidy. It has many types of stunning trees, flowers and roses, with a beautiful green canopy of grapes.

April 2022

Bersive 1 camp: Ziad Hafo Murad. So much green! Ziad has planted his garden on the small patch of land outside his tented shelter.

Bersive 2 camp: Eido Maro Gashtar. This courtyard garden showcases distinctive trees opposite the door of the tent and Eido has been busy growing different types of fruit.

Domiz 1 camp: Muhamad Ahmad Ali. Muhamad has made good use of the available space, planting a range of crops including beautiful roses and trees for shade.

Domiz 2 camp: Basel Khalil Shaker. Basel has excelled in designing his garden – flowers, trees and shrubs border the well-kept lawn.

Essian camp: Sharo Ellias. Sharo and his family have planted flowers and shrubs to form a beautiful view in front of their tented shelter. Their background is in farming and it is clear to see the passion behind this space.

Gawillan camp: Hoger Ali. In Hoger’s garden there are beautifully tended borders, with pink roses in bloom.

Kabartu 1 camp: Faisal Qasim Jardo. While the space for growing is small, Faisal has some established trees and is keen to continue gardening.

Kabartu 2 camp: Hassan Hussin Ali. Despite the small size of the land here, Hassan is cultivating a lovely variety of colourful roses and other plants which brighten the space.

Khanki camp: Nadhim Jono Ismael. This is an extremely tidy garden and is a beautiful space to spend time with family and friend. Nadhim’s garden has a swing and is surrounded by a smart fence.

March 2022

Bersive 1 camp: Omar Dakhil Sliman
Bersive 2 camp: Barakat Basi Sliman
Domiz 1 camp: Ayad Khalid Ahmad
Domiz 2 camp: Basel Khalil Shaker
Essian camp: Khalaf Ali
Gawillan camp: Dlshad Shukri Ahmad
Kabartu 1 camp: Shaima Khdida Ali
Kabartu 2 camp: Renas Naif Shamo
Khanki camp: Ferial Khalf Edo

February 2022

Bersive 1 camp: Muhanad Muhsin Ajel
Bersive 2 camp: Khdir Salo Khdr
Domiz 1 camp: Alaa Hassan Esa
Domiz 2 camp: Mohammed Sharif Ibrahim
Essian camp: Sliman Yousif Sliman
Gawillan camp: Yousif Mohammad Shwesh
Kabartu 1 camp: Abas Ibrahim Hassan
Kabartu 2 camp: Murad Hassan Talo
Khanki camp: Sadoun Poko

January 2022

Bersive 1 camp: Said Ali Omar
Bersive 2 camp: Bashar Khdr Hassan
Domiz 1 Aisha Ramadan Ali
Domiz 2 camp: Walid Ahmad Yousif
Essian camp: Jalila Ahmad Qasim
Gawillan camp: Rakan Nahit Haso
Kabartu 1 camp: Abdul Muhsin Sadon Sadon
Kabartu 2 camp: Ali Rasho Qasim
Khanki camp: Aziz Jalal Murad

December 2021: Garden of the Month award winners:

Our team took a break from Garden of the Month this month.

November 2021: Garden of the Month award winners:

Bersive 1 camp: Khatab Khdida Jomer
Bersive 2 camp: Ellias Qro Sliman
Domiz 1 Abdul Aziz Ali
Domiz 2 camp: Jamal Mahmod Ali
Essian camp: Dalal Hamid Haji
Gawillan camp: Amal Ali Ahmad
Kabartu 1 camp: Khalid Majhan Jardo
Kabartu 2 camp: Rasho Kars Harmosh
Khanki camp: Wedad Khiro

October 2021: Garden of the Month award winners

Bersive 1 camp: Sabah Ellias Qasim
Bersive 2 camp: Jardo Shamo Koti
Domiz 1 camp: Lorin Rafaat Yousif
Domiz 2 camp: Hassan Ramadan Abdullah
Essian camp: Faris Khdida Mato
Gawillan camp: Jamil Ibrahim Maamo
Kabartu 1 camp: Qahtan Adnan Ali
Kabartu 2 camp: Ibtisam Khalid Khdida
Khanki camp: Hussain Ali

September 2021: Garden of the Month award winners

Bersive 1 camp: Qasim Ali Omar – The garden has a good variety of flowers, trees, with beautiful flowers in front of the house creating a fantastic view.

Bersive 2 camp: Mahmod Slo Khalaf – The cheerful pops of orange bordering the pathway up to the front door are superb.

Domiz 1 camp: Salwa Ali Ali – This garden has several beautiful pots which go a long way to brightening the small space.

Domiz 2 camp: Abdul Aziz Muhammad Ibrahim – Fantastic diversity in plants and shrubs and the green space for sitting in, with the coloured cement and stone, is lovely.

Essian camp: Ziad Ali Sado – The plants and roses that decorated the front of his tent brought back memories from Shingal before the displacement, so Ziad expanded the flower beds around his tent with roses and plants so that they can be seen from all sides.

Gawillan camp: Baqi Muhammad Amin – This small garden gives the owner hope to return one day to his village in Syria to live in the large garden he established there.

Kabartu 1 camp: Hassan Khdida Nafosh – Fantastic efforts in greening this shelter – keep up the good work.

Kabartu 2 camp: Mamo Haji Osman – This well-established garden has many beautiful trees and flowers.

Khanki camp: Layla Murad Ismail – The garden has a large group of trees and flowers, in addition to plants used in the kitchen, and it also has a beautiful swing. The garden is very suitable for spending time with family.

June 2021: Garden of the Month award winners

Bersive 1: Wisam Hathal Campa
Bersive 2: Abdul Aziz Hamid Jardo
Domiz 1: Gaaed Ahmed Amin Qasim
Domiz 2: Sliman Younis Ahmed
Essian: Salman Salim Qasm
Gawillan: Abbas Muhammed Mahmoud
Kabartu 1: Sado Khalil Khdida
Kabartu 2: Thawra Hassan Khalaf
Khanki: Khalida Shamo

May 2021: Garden of the Month award winners

Bersive 1 camp: Nawaf Rasho Qaso – The garden consists of a fig tree, mint plants, flowers, a tree and grapes. The gardener has worked on this small garden in front of his tent for two years and says that even a single flower in the camp is difficult to grow due to the soil quality – he says: “I decided to pick up much good soil as possible and plant these trees and flowers in order to change the look of the tent for the better.” ⁣

Domiz 1 camp: Bayan Yousif Amo – ⁣This gardener is interested in agriculture and she is eager to develop her garden. She is participating in LTT activities for the first time. ⁣

Domiz 2 camp: Haji Majo – ⁣This garden was chosen because for its ingenuity and creativity. In addition to its scenic beauty and its many aesthetic plants, the garden has vegetables and several fruit trees, including grapes, lemons, figs, peaches and pomegranates. Along with Haji, the chickens also enjoy this green space. The effort put into this garden is highly commendable. ⁣

⁣Essian camp: Hassan Yousif Hassan – This garden shows a great love for grass and plants, especially roses. Plus, half of his tent disappears when plants climb up it, forming a beautiful green landscape.⁣

Gawillan camp: Maha Ala Aldin Hajo Dawood – Just look at all the green! This gardener enjoys participating in LTT activities and says that spending time in her garden raises her spirits and ‘relieves our tired souls from the war’. ⁣

Kabartu 1 camp: Ellias Khdida Ali – This garden was chosen because the gardener has planted a lot of roses and trees and he is excited about further cultivating his space. ⁣
⁣ ⁣
Kabartu 2 camp: ⁣Dawood Hasso Fandi – Despite the small size of this gardener’s house, there are many beautiful plants and different types of roses – fantastic to see! ⁣

Khanki camp: Khokhi Hasso Silo – The garden was so beautiful and fascinating and the rose archway provides a warm welcome. ⁣ ⁣⁣

April 2021: Garden of the Month award winners

Bersive 1 camp: Said Khidr Soro – it is fantastic to see this space being used to grow food.

Gawillan camp: Adnan Muhammed Ahmed – This gardener has brought his love of roses from Afrin in Syria to this small space.

⁣⁣Domiz 1 camp: Sharif Ahmed Haj Ahmed –This gardener is a keen horticulturist and organises his space well.

Domiz 2 camp: Muhammad Abdul Baqi – The whole space is beautiful and we especially love the planters.⁣

⁣⁣Essian camp: Tariq Ano Rasho – When we visited this garden we noticed that it is completely different from the other gardens we recorded – despite the small area, plants, flowers and trees are being cultivated. There is no doubt that the gardens are the most joyful things in life.

Kabartu 1 camp: Nadia Maree Hassan – Tidy and organised garden with stunning pink roses.

Kabartu 2 camp: ⁣ Shaha Rasho Sabri – This garden was chosen due to its arrangement and aesthetics. Despite the small size of the area the gardener really cares about it and plants trees and roses of all kinds.

Khanki camp: Amal Kimo – The garden was chosen because it contains many types of flowers and beautiful roses, in addition to the fact that the garden is very well arranged and planted in a different way. Although it is early, the garden is complete.

March 2021: Garden of the Month award winners

Bersive 1 camp: Hazim Haji Saido – Fantastic to see plants growing so well in this small slice of green.

Domiz 1 camp: Sawsan Ibrahim Amo – We can see here that this gardener, who is a regular participant in LTT activities, loves agriculture and takes great care in monitoring and looking after her small green space. ⁣

Domiz 2 camp: Isam Arif Slo – A lot of time and effort has been taken to build this unique water feature. Top marks for the creativity and skill demonstrated. ⁣

Essian camp: Khalida Jardo Ellias – When you look at this garden, it is clear to see the passion and love for agriculture. The gardener has worked hard to develop her green space in terms of agricultural diversity and the recycling of materials. ⁣
⁣⁣
Gawillan camp: Abd Rahman Muhhamed Tabo – We love the mix of plants being grown here and the gardener says that the space helps his mental health as it provides relief from the fatigue of life and the feeling of being a refugee. ⁣

Kabartu 1 camp: Asaad Khthir Edio – This garden has been totally transformed and it is clear to see the love of gardening through the planting of trees, fencing around the space and general care taken.⁣
⁣⁣
Kabartu 2 camp: Manal Murad Darwish – This gardener has always had a passion for growing. When he became a Kabartu resident in 2014 after being forcibly displaced, he decided to create a new garden. Despite the narrow space and the small space here, there are many types of beautiful plants and flowers, including carnations, roses, tulips, primrose. The gardener says the plants and space bring him peace and quiet.

Khanki camp: Khuder Haji Sulaiman – The garden was chosen because it contains many types of vegetables, in addition to the fact that the garden is very tidy and the family cares for it a lot. ⁣

February 2021: Garden of the Month award winners

Bersive 1 camp: Zaid Khdr Elias – An excellent effort in greening the small and narrow patch of land here. ⁣

Domiz 1 camp: Karima Ahmad Omar – A regular participant in LTT activities and competitions, this gardener loves farming and has a desire to develop her garden further. ⁣

Domiz 2 camp: Sagvan Sliman Taher – This gardener enjoys working and sitting in the garden – the fresh air and plants are relaxing.⁣

Essian camp: Adnan Ali Hussin – Lots of upcycling of used containers can be seen in this garden. This gardener demonstrates creativity and diversity here and has created a peaceful sanctuary. ⁣

Gawillan camp: Bahia Salim Afo – Despite the small size of this gardener’s house, there are lots of beautiful plants and different types of roses.⁣

Kabartu 1 camp: Rasho Abdo Hassan – Fantastic to see such a large number of trees – figs, grapes, olives, peaches and almonds – within the limited space.⁣

Kabartu 2 camp: ⁣Lina Sliman – This garden was established two years ago and it is wonderful to see a variety of trees and plants here.⁣

Khanki camp: Nasser Khalaf Sulaiman – The garden was chosen for the amount of hard work expended in it by its owner who is an elderly man. He loves to spend his time planting and working in the garden. ⁣

January 2021: Garden of the Month award winners

Bersive 1 camp: Haji Katy Ibrahim – A well maintained garden and diverse area of trees and plant species, with height variation adding interest.  ⁣

Domiz 1 camp: Shamya Nawaf Ali – We love the creative upcycling of containers and vertical planting display which bring beauty to the home and street.  ⁣

Domiz 2 camp: Yasamin Qasim – You don’t necessarily need a lot of space to plant seedlings and flowers. This small home garden provides psychological comfort and reassurance.  ⁣

⁣Essian camp: Parvo Khalaf Ali ⁣⁣– This is different from many of the other gardens we have visited because it is a micro-farm in terms of the area and the diversity within it. Vegetables and herbs, such as chard, radishes, onions, garlic, parsley and more, are grown and distributed to friends and neighbours. Living conditions in Essian camp are not ideal and we know our gardening initiatives help keep people busy and hopeful as they cope with the daily challenges of life in camp.⁣

Gawillan camp: Walid Sabri Shahin ⁣⁣⁣⁣– After hearing about Lemon Tree Trust’s activities, this resident felt encouraged to create a small garden to bring some green to his home.  ⁣

Kabartu 1 camp: Khalil Haji Hassan – This gardener grows trees of all kinds, such as grape, fig, plum and apricot.  ⁣
⁣⁣
Kabartu 2 camp: Halima Kars Hassan – Through the beautiful borders and painted wall, this gardener has made great strides to bring pockets of colour to brighten her outside space.⁣
⁣⁣
Khanki camp: Saeed Haji ⁣– Despite limited resources, the family enjoy gardening together and plant in all parts of their home.  ⁣

December 2020

Bersive 1 camp: Mohammed Rafo Hussin – A small and simple garden filled with lots of green and orderly planters. ⁣

Domiz 1 camp: Noshin Nather Abdo – A simple but beautiful container planter display. ⁣

Domiz 2 camp: Hssin Mohammed Abdul Hanan – A beautiful and well laid out garden with variety! Full of fruit trees and flowers, with a specific area for growing winter and summer vegetables.⁣

Essian camp: ⁣⁣Ezden Hassan Abdullah – A standout garden in the neighbourhood due to its abundance and variety of vegetables, as well as the planted trees, demonstrating the gardener’s keenness and interest in growing.⁣

Gawillan camp: Salah Ramadan Mousa – Spectacularly creative and colourful garden despite its small size, filled with many upcycled containers, vertical planters and additional colour via the Kurdistan flag painted on the wall.⁣

Kabartu 1 camp: Saoud Khthr Bashar – This garden provides hope. Look at the stacked tyre planter 😊⁣

Kabartu 2 camp: ⁣Hassan Ali Yousif – An attractive garden with lots of colourful flowers.⁣

Khanki camp: ⁣Nada Khider Sulaiman – The garden was chosen because it has a variety of trees and vegetables that can be used in daily life.

November 2020

Bersive 1 camp: Saeed Daham Qato – One of the most beautiful gardens in the camp.

Domiz 1 camp: Abdul Kareem Qasim – A lovely area in which the family grows food and flowers.⁣

⁣Domiz 2: Nihad Muhammed Hassan – The unity of this garden is attractive and showcases how hard the gardener works. ⁣

Essian camp: ⁣⁣Khdida Carls Harmosh – How amazing it feels when you see a person planting a small spot in front of his tent and filling his daily need of vegetables and fruits.⁣

Gawillan camp: ⁣Jwan Mohammed Ameen – Wonderful upcycling of containers and vertical planting provides interest.

Kabartu 1 camp: Haidar Darwesh Hassin – Beautiful plants and supporter of gardening and agriculture.⁣

Kabartu 2 camp: ⁣Hussin Ali Yousif – Exquisite flowers in this garden.⁣

Khanki camp: ⁣Nasso Qolo Shivan – Despite its simplicity, this garden was chosen due to the tidiness and the care and dedication provided by the family, especially son and daughter. ⁣

October 2020

Bersive 1 camp: Waled Haret Qasim – while this garden is simple, it has a beautiful tree in the middle.

Domiz 1 camp: Wael Hadi Khalaf – stunning palm tree and garden layout in development⁣.

Domiz 2 camp: Bahzad Muhamed – beautiful garden arranged in a wonderful geometric shape plus diversity of flowers and seedlings, as well as the feeling of psychological comfort when sitting in the garden⁣.

Gawillan camp: ⁣Azad Ahmad Othman – lovely small garden showing a commitment to help with afforestation in the area to create a purer atmosphere⁣.

Kabartu 1 camp: Shamo Hamoka Khalaf – the big rose with its pink colour has a wonderful calming effect⁣.

Kabartu 2 camp: ⁣Naif Khalil Haso – colourful garden full of different types of plants and flowers.⁣

Khanki camp: ⁣Nadhim Jono Ismail – chosen because of being well arranged and varied. Lovely to see trees that were awarded by LTT last year.⁣

September 2020

Bersive 1: Hadiya Elyas Hassan⁣
Domiz 1: Jihan Salih Ismail⁣
Domiz 2: Ryath Yousif Ramadan⁣

Essian: ⁣⁣Ziad Khalaf Ellias⁣
Gawillan: ⁣Aziz Muhammed Ali⁣
Kabartu 1: Hassan Rasho Abdo ⁣⁣
Kabartu 2: ⁣Faisal Ansh Khdr⁣
Khanki: ⁣Murad Ghaznim Ali

 

Refugee and IDP (internally displaced people) camps are created quickly, out of urgent need. But many become long-term homes for the people who live there. Over time, these settlements evolve into what we might call accidental cities – dense, complex urban environments that are rarely planned for the long term. As Earth Day approaches, we’re … Continued

We recently invited our incredible community of supporters to share their thoughts on our work, impact and future direction. Your feedback has been insightful and inspiring, helping us shape our next steps.  Thousands of displaced people have found hope, healing and dignity through gardening, thanks to your support. But as we look ahead to the … Continued

Thanks to the incredible generosity of supporters in 2024, the Hêvî Community Garden in Gawilan refugee camp has made remarkable progress. Named ‘Hêvî’, meaning ‘hope’ in Kurdish, this garden is now a busy hub, providing a vital area for people to reconnect and build resilience. Through your kindness, we received £9,207 GBP ($11,268 USD) to … Continued