2025 Annual Garden Competitions bring communities together
The Lemon Tree Trust 2025 Annual Garden Competitions have taken place across nine IDP and refugee camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, including Bersive 1+2, Domiz 1+2, Essian, Gawilan, Kabartu 1+2 and Khanki. Residents were invited to enter the competitions after receiving seeds and plants to start or continue growing their own home gardens. These gardens bring life and beauty to camp shelters, offer a sense of purpose, and support mental and physical wellbeing, while enhancing the local environment of the camps.
We held seven garden parties to announce the winners, where they received certificates, a small cash prize, and a packet of our hand-blended Sidra Tea (all ingredients are grown, picked, dried, and blended by hand in our Azadî Community Garden in Domiz 1 camp). The celebrations were full of smiles, cake (each party had its own cake commissioned from a local baker with a unique design), refreshments, and the joy of connecting with fellow gardeners.
Beyond the awards, the competitions encourage community connection, celebrate the creativity and dedication of participants, and support food security and the creation of greener living spaces. Each garden, whether ornamental or productive, reflects the resilience and energy of residents who are survivors of war, bringing hope and colour to their communities.
Our thanks go to the Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) and Welat TV for their support with venues, judging, and media coverage, and to our gardening teams and camp coordinators for ensuring the smooth running of events across all camps.
You can support this work by making a donation, sharing our story on social media, signing up for our monthly newsletter, or forwarding it to friends. Every garden planted and every person empowered brings us closer to our vision: a world where every refugee camp and community of forced migrants has access to gardens that provide hope, nourishment and connection. Learn more about our strategic aims and ongoing projects, here.
We have launched our Spring 2026: Tree & Plant Appeal, inviting supporters to help families displaced by war grow gardens that bring food, shade, sanctuary and beauty to the places they now call home. There are over 1.34 million displaced people living in Iraq, more than 300,000 of them Syrian refugees. Many live in camps … Continued
Gardens That Can Save the World, a new book by award-winning garden designer Lottie Delamain, features Lemon Tree Trust and we are honoured to be included. The book, published on 12 March by Thames & Hudson, brings together 65 projects from around the world, exploring how gardens and growing can address some of the most … Continued
We are pleased to have run a small gardening project with the Êriș Centre in Qamishli, Syria. The centre helps supports 12 children aged five and above with a range of disabilities and additional needs. They are supported by a team of 17 trainers, assistants and supervisors. We arranged two simple gardening activities for the … Continued