With less than three weeks to go before the winners of the Rotary Butterfly Gardens competition for primary and nursery schools are revealed, the final judging panel has been named.

It will include Nigel Pulling, chief executive of Yorkshire Agricultural Society, which runs the Great Yorkshire Show, Gill Davidson, group secretary of Skipton Building Society, and Malcolm Forsey, site manager of Yorwaste.

They will decide the first and second prizewinners in the four competition categories for primary schools, while the nursery school category will be judged separately by a panel of Rotarians.

Project director Bob Hargreaves said: “We are delighted that we have been able to attract high-calibre judges who have an excellent portfolio of experience and specialist knowledge to draw on.

“The children have put a huge amount of effort and enthusiasm into this competition so I’m sure that they will have some wonderful gardens to judge on July 19.”

Mr Pulling, who is lead judge, explained what the panel would be looking for in a winning entry.

“We will be looking at how successfully the children’s gardens have been in attracting butterflies, but our brief is much wider than that.

“We are also interested to see all the ways in which the children have connected with the project. We are looking for an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment by encouraging the growth of natural habitats under threat, and recycling.”

Speaking in support of the Rotary project, Ms Davidson said: “This is a great opportunity for the building society to support a new local environmental project that will have helped our children understand how they can play a part in conserving the natural world around them.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the gardens and to hearing the children’s views on the best ways to protect butterflies.”

Mr Forsey is keen to see how the gardens are growing.

“As this project fits in so well with our emphasis on encouraging environmental sustainability through recycling, it has been wonderful to be able to be part of giving local children the chance to learn how they can make a contribution to saving the planet.”

The project is also backed by Skipton Town Council, Skipton in Bloom, and the Craven Herald and Pioneer. The awards ceremony will take place in Skipton Town Hall on Thursday July 22.