The National Trust Sky Gardening Challenge is giving people who share feedback on their experience of Sky Gardening Challenge the chance to win the book: GROW: Fill your world with plants (National Trust) by Robyn Booth.

Eligibility

• Entrants must be 18 years of age or older

• Entrants must live in the UK

• The prize draw is not open to National Trust employees or their immediate families or anyone associated with the prize draw.

How to enter

To enter the prize draw, individuals must fill out the Sky Gardening Challenge survey (https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=uXm6DyNkDUaI7_nD1Moun-Rb3y6gWsNCnaUgANHbuydURURISkRWTkVYUVNGQlg2UUVRN1lMVzZIQi4u) and follow the link in the confirmation message to access the prize draw form. They will need to opt into the prize draw on this form, agree to the T&C's and an email address must also be provided which will be used to contact the winner of the prize draw. The prize draw opens on 6th August 2025 and will close on 23:59 1st October. There is a limit of one entry per person and any person who enters more than once will be disqualified.

The prize

There will be one winner of the prize draw who will win one book: GROW: Fill your world with plants (National Trust) by Robyn Booth.

No cash alternative will be made. Prizes are non-transferable and will be awarded to the named individual on the entry.

Selection of a winner

The winner of this prize draw will be chosen at random by picking names out of a hat. This will be done in the presence of an independent observer. The winner will be contacted by email by 8th October 2025 to let them know they have won and to arrange delivery of the prize.

Other terms

Events may occur that may render the prize draw itself or the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond our control and accordingly we may vary or amend the promotion. We will do everything we reasonably can to ensure that winners receive prizes of at least equal value.

By entering into the prize draw, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.

These terms and conditions are governed by English law, and the parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Promotion

This prize draw is promoted by The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty (Registered Charity Number 205846) of Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon SN2 2NA

We must either publish or make available information that indicates that a valid award took place. Ordinarily this will be the surname and county of major prizewinners and, if applicable, their winning entries. If you object to your information being published or made available on request, or wish to reduce the amount of information to be published or made available, please email us at skygardeningchallenge@nationaltrust.org.uk. In such circumstances, we must still provide the information and winning entry to the Advertising Standards Authority if challenged.

Privacy policy

Your privacy is important to us. We will process your personal data to manage the prize draw and send you relevant information about this. For further information on how we look after your personal information please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-policies/privacy. If you would like a printed copy of the Privacy Policy you can request it by post by contacting: The Data Protection Office, National Trust, Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon, SN2 2NA. 

"We "and "us" means the National Trust, charity number 205846, and National Trust (Enterprises) Limited

If you live in a flat and want to garden your balcony, window box or ground-floor space, it is important that you:

• Get permission from your housing provider. Many housing providers allow ‘managed use’, which means you may be able to use the space for gardening; there may be certain rules you need to follow, which could differ from housing provider to housing provider. Some housing providers may have a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to balcony usage or ‘sterile balcony’ policy, which would prevent you from using it for gardening. In this case, focus on houseplants you can grow in your flat!

• Check your Buildings and Contents Insurance policies to check if there are any restrictions.

If you get permission to garden your flat’s balcony, window box or ground-floor space, it is essential that you:

• Do not use fire under any circumstance.

• Keep all fire escape routes free of obstructions, such as plant pots. This could include common areas such as stairways, deck walkways/linking balconies, or roofs which form part of a fire escape route for yourself and/or others.

• Don’t make material alterations (e.g. structural alterations) to your flat or balcony when gardening, without first getting consent from your housing provider and approval from building control.

• Don’t do anything through gardening that would interfere with the fire protection measures for your flat or building (e.g. fire doors, signage), or impact on the compartmentation of your flat, i.e. cause fire to spread more easily from one flat to another or into an escape route.

• Don’t use, or store, combustible materials for gardening on a balcony (e.g. wooden trellises, petrol gardening equipment, hazardous chemicals, gardening waste etc). Dry compost and dry plant material (e.g. dead plants) can be flammable, so it’s important to keep your plants healthy and well-watered; in the event of a fire, they could encourage fire to spread to a neighbour’s flat. Do not attempt to extinguish any flame or cigarette in plant pots as it will be at risk of igniting.

• Check the weight restrictions for your balcony with your housing provider, and make sure you don’t exceed them. Lightweight containers and lightweight roof garden soil can help keep weight down.

• Ensure plant pots and heavy items are kept away from the edge of the balcony and do not hang over the external side of the balcony due to risk of falling and causing injury to anyone below.

• Avoid positioning pots, planters, or trellises in such a way that they form steps up the balcony rail/parapet, or create trip hazards

• Ensure that any free-standing structures such as plant pots, stack planters and free-standing arches are robust and weighted down to avoid them becoming damaged or hazardous in high winds. Avoid placing planters or other items on the balcony parapets/rails. If railing planters/hanging baskets are permitted by your management company, keep them on the inside of your balcony.

• Do not lean over or sit on balcony walls or railings in order to garden, or stand on balcony furniture, ladders or stepladders due to risk of falling over the balustrade.

• Ensure any electrical equipment used for gardening (including fairy lights) is in good working order, suitable for outdoor use and not left unattended when switched on. Avoid wiring it directly into your flat or using extension leads.

• Use drip trays, saucers or trays underneath plant pots to prevent water overflowing from plant pots and dropping onto balconies below or damaging the structure of your balcony. Make sure that drain outlets are not covered and water flow into them isn’t restricted.

• Use only peat-free compost.

• Follow instructions and warnings on gardening products and tools.

• Be aware that some plants can be hazardous to people or pets if touched or consumed. Check plant labels for toxicity warnings (sometimes stated on label) and take necessary precautions.