The winner of the World's Ugliest Lawn contest has been crowned.

Kathleen Murray from Tasmania, Australia, has received the coveted first prize – a pre-owned t-shirt with the text - Proud Owner of The World's Ugliest Lawn.

The World’s Ugliest Lawns is run by the Swedish island of Gotland and celebrates the conservation efforts of those who do not water their lawns.

Launched by the island’s municipality Region Gotland in 2022, initially as a regional water-saving initiative, the contest attracted worldwide attention. As a result, a global competition was launched in 2023, with the aim of changing the green lawn standard to save water on a global scale.

This year's competition was judged by a panel of international jurors who deliberated at length over many hideous yet heroic contenders. The panel reported all entrants had a lot of ugliness to be proud of but one lawn was indeed the ugliest.

Judges said, “Kathleen Murray's lawn boasts deep, dry divots created by three wild bandicoots and not one dust-covered decimeter is wasted on watering.

"For that, the planet, and its dwindling stockpiles of life-giving liquid, thank you, Kathleen. As well as those naughty, naughty bandicoots pockmarking your property for the greater good.”

Mimmi Gibson, director of brand at Region Gotland, Sweden, said, “It's the most beautiful example of the most unattractive lawn for the most worthy cause in the world: water conservation.

"That's the genius of this competition. It uses humour to shine a light on such a serious subject. And it awards those willing to proudly proclaim that theirs is the lawn which deserves disgusted glances from neighbours – and a round of applause from around the globe.”