No Westmeath winners at Bloom
Westmeath failed to achieve success in the 20th annual Bord Bia Bloom this morning. Neighbours Meath picked up eight prizes including one of the 11 gold medals awarded to show gardens championing sustainability, mental health and innovative urban living.
Boyne Garden Centre & Nursery – Aileen Muldoon-Byrne (Slane, Meath) picked up gold in the Plant Nurseries category.
The overall large garden category award went to the ‘Recycled, Reused and Refilled Sculptural Garden’ sponsored by Repak and designed by James Purdy, while the overall medium garden category award was presented to The ‘Future in Mind’ garden, sponsored by the Mental Health Commission and designed by Joe Eustace. Both gardens reflect this year’s powerful theme of care - for the environment, for our communities and for our health and wellbeing.
A total of 19 medals were presented across the show garden category, including the ‘Most Sustainable Garden Award’, which went to the ‘Fingal Nurturing Communities Through Nature’ garden, sponsored by Fingal County Council and designed by Áit Urbanism + Landscape.
The garden is among a number at this year’s festival demonstrating how thoughtful design and community-focused initiatives can help people in compact or high-density urban settings reconnect with nature and biodiversity.
Commenting on this year’s awards, Chief Judge Andrew Wilson said, “It’s wonderful to be back at Bloom to celebrate its 20th anniversary and to witness its evolution over those two decades as the world of garden and planting design has progressed.
“With the climate pressures we are faced with, we need sustainable ideas and solutions, planting that is resilient and materials that can deliver more than once. Happily, there are gardens at Bloom 26 that reflect these concepts while providing inspirational ideas and messages that prove the value of this show which remains relevant and responsive.”
The overall concept garden award went to ‘Shared Roots, Common Shade’, sponsored by the European Commission and designed by Oliver and Liat Schurmann. The ‘I Can Create That Garden with Q102’, designed by Carleen Osborne, received the overall small garden award, while the overall balcony garden award was presented to ‘The Birdwatcher’s Balcony Garden’ sponsored by RTÉ Radio 1 and Mooney Goes Wild and designed by Barry Kavanagh.
In the Nursery Village, a total of 17 medals were awarded to new and returning plant nurseries, recognising excellence in horticulture and plant production. Meanwhile, this year’s Postcard Gardens, which are small pop-up gardens created by community groups from across the country, received a total of 14 medals.
Jim O’Toole, Chief Executive of Bord Bia, said: “As we celebrate the 20th Bord Bia Bloom, we are proud to once again create a space where people can discover the very best of Irish food, drink and horticulture, reconnect with nature, and enjoy a positive and uplifting day out in the Phoenix Park.
“I would also like to congratulate all of this year’s medal winners and participants. Reaching opening day takes months of hard work, dedication and creativity, and the standard across the festival this year is exceptional. We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the country over the bank holiday weekend to enjoy everything Bord Bia Bloom has to offer.”
Later this morning, the festival will be officially opened by the President of Ireland, and Bloom Patron, Catherine Connolly.
Attendees on opening day will be treated to live performances, talks and demonstrations throughout the day from a host of talent including gardening experts Diarmuid Gavin and Adam Frost (BBC Gardeners’ World) on the Garden Stage; chefs Neven Maguire, Rory O’Connell and Eva Pau on the Dunnes Stores Quality Kitchen Stage; leaders in climate-positive living, Mick Kelly, GIY, Ruth Hegarty, Food Policy Ireland and Deirdre Duffy, Friends of the Earth on the Sustainable Living Stage; and wellness gurus Miriam Hussey, Oonagh O’Hagan and Laura Dowling in the new Wellness Village.