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Irish Independent

Gardens centred around recycling and circular economy take top prizes at Bord Bia Bloom as festival opens to public

The overall large garden category award at Bord Bia Bloom in Phoenix Park went to the Repak Most Sorted Garden, designed by James Purdy. While the overall medium garden category award was presented to The European Commission's 'Renewed Blooms' Garden, designed by David Negus. All 21 show gardens showcased at this year's festival were designed with sustainability in mind and incorporate environmental measures. Judges highlighted that these two gardens particularly emphasise strong sustainability messages for visitors to take home. A total of 19 medals including eight gold medals, were awarded to show gardens in advance of the show opening to the public this morning. The overall small garden winner was The Pot Gallery Garden, designed by Alan Rudden, which demonstrates how freestanding and vertical pots can create green spaces on terraces, roofs or balconies. The overall concept garden winner was The Rainbow Brick Balcony Garden designed by Limerick artist, Gary Kirwan, as a tribute to LEGO. It is constructed from over 800,000 pieces over eight weeks and will be reused at family-oriented events run by Brick Shows Ireland around the country. Chief Garden Judge, Andrew Wilson said each year adjudicators come to Bloom the quality of the show gardens 'steps up an extra notch'. 'The judging panel has been delighted by the range of ideas, the creativity, and the quality of the gardens this year,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT "It's especially great to see sustainable ideas at the fore. We are seeing this with recycling, the choice of planting, and the reuse and repurposing of materials throughout the gardens. Visitors to Bloom will have a ball visiting the show gardens and are guaranteed to get some great ideas to take home.' Meanwhile, in the Nursery Village, a total of 16 medals were awarded to new and returning plant nurseries. This year's Postcard Gardens, which are small but perfectly formed gardens created by community groups received 11 medals. Bord Bia Bloom opens to the public today and will continue for five days up until this Bank Holiday Monday. Jim O'Toole, Bord Bia Chief Executive said: 'After months of hard work and planning, we are delighted to welcome our first visitors here this morning.' "I would like to congratulate all the medal winners whose creativity and expertise has been justly rewarded. Now the public can appreciate their inspiring horticulture displays over the next five days,' he said. Mr O'Toole noted that over 300 performances and demonstrations will take place across across seven stages over the next few days. The festival will be officially opened by Bord Bia Bloom patron, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, who will be accompanied by his wife Ms Sabina Higgins. Other big names expected on opening day are leading Government officials including An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon and broadcasters Marty Morrissey, Áine Lawlor and Marty Whelan. Also expected to attend are gardening experts Diarmuid Gavin, Adam Frost (BBC Gardener's World), chefs Trisha Lewis, Neven Maguire, Rory O'Connell and Edward Hayden; as well as food writers and content creators Lilly Higgins and James Kavanagh. To discover the full event programme, visit or follow @bordbiabloom on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.