Westmeath Flower Farmers taking part in Bord Bia Bloom in Phoenix Park

Four Westmeath Flower Farmers are taking part in Ireland’s largest gardening festival, Bord Bia Bloom, which will take part at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre on May 29.

The festival aims to be a world-class, uplifting, horticulture and food and drink experience, which will take place over 5 days, using the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre as its hub.

Westmeath is being well represented at this year's event, with four flower farmers from Lake County making the trip.

The four flower farmers are: Anna Browne of Big Sky Flowers in Mullingar, who is a Bord Bia Bloom veteran, Sarah Stockton from Miltownpass, Izzy Cummins from Collinstown and Jo Hiney from Glasson.

The Westmeath flower farmers are part of Flower Farmers of Ireland, an association for people to grow flowers and foliage sustainability.

Some members of Flower Farmers of Ireland are large commercial growers, and some grow to sell locally, but they come together to battle massive imports from overseas.

These imports can be shipped using unsustainable and damaging practices, by choosing locally grown flowers, consumers can help support local economies and reduce the impact on the environment.

The group's presence at Bord Bia Bloom is an invitation to learn about the world of sustainable flower farming, with visitors to their stand being able to explore locally grown blooms and meet the growers.