The world is getting hotter, and water availability is decreasing. In 2022, the Swedish island Gotland, which regularly experiences drought, launched the yearly contest Gotland’s Ugliest Lawn to promote water conservation.

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Since the initiative helped save water on Gotland, the island scaled it into an annual global contest in 2023 with the help of actress Shailene Woodley. It has so far generated an earned reach of 2.2 billion, attracted entries from around the world, and made people question the norm of green lawns. 

 

Each year, The Guardian exclusively announces the winner, who earns the honour of wearing the contest’s travelling trophy – a pre-owned T-shirt passed from winner to winner, bearing the words “Proud owner of The World’s Ugliest Lawn”.