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RTÉ News
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Super Garden: Wicklow designer creates a 'culinary canopy'
The 16th series of beloved gardening competition Super Garden has returned to our screens on RTÉ One, with this week's episode introducing viewers to Wicklow designer Chris Walsh. With a background in environmental science, the 32-year-old has a passion for the environment and previously studied Wildlife Biology at IT Tralee. Although he previously worked in environmental consultancy, he ultimately decided to pursue his passion for gardening, enrolling in a part-time course in the Garden Design Academy. Additionally, he underwent work experience with a garden design company in Dublin, which eventually led him to set up his own landscaping business, Birch & Fern. Chris has a passion for transforming blank spaces, which is part of the reason he applied to Super Garden, to show what can be achieved in a small area. If he wins Super Garden, he will showcase his winning design at Ireland's largest gardening festival, Bord Bia Bloom, which is set to welcome over 100,000 visitors. As a new business owner, the opportunity to display at the festival would be the pinnacle of his career. In order to be in with a chance to win, though, Chris must design an award-winning garden for Brazilian couple Aline and Marcelo. As a chef, Marcelo is adamant about having a beautiful barbecue area to entertain family and friends in the summer. Additionally, Chris hopes to welcome wildlife to the area, bringing his love for the environment to his design. The eco-minded gardener aimed to create a 'culinary canopy' that would deliver a stepping stone pathway surrounded by creeping thyme, an entertainment space canopied by an impressive pergola, and a comfortable dining area. Two large flower beds, filled with pollinator-friendly plants, as well as a wildlife-friendly water bowl, would complete the space. Of course, that is all easier said than done. Although Chris had great experience with landscaping, which stood to him over the course of the build, Judge Brian Burke was quick to raise concerns about the functionality of the space and the flow of the garden. On a positive note, Judge Carol Marks was thrilled with the Wicklow man's use of colour, thanks to the wide variety of plants used. And while Judge Monica Alvarez was initially concerned that the garden lacked a 'wow factor', Chris won her over with the level of detail he brought to the garden, including a floating timber shelf made from a 220-year-old tree that had been struck by lightning. In the end, with just three weeks and a €15,000 budget, Chris delivered a beautiful garden that the homeowners were thrilled with.
The Irish Sun
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Young couple blown away by transformation on RTE Super Garden as judges divided by ‘low maintenance' design
RTE Super Garden contestant Chris Walsh blew away a young couple with his "low maintenance" design - but it left the judges divided. The brand-new series of Super Garden continued tonight with five new budding designers battling it out for a coveted spot at Bord Bia's Bloom in 2025. Advertisement 4 Gardener Chris Walsh transformed Aline and Marcelo's home Credit: RTE 4 The couple live in Baker Hall, Navan Credit: RTE 4 Chris wanted to showcase his superb design skills with this garden Credit: RTE The super gardeners hoping to have their designs shown off at Bord Bia Bloom are Chris, Jorge, Debbie, Eileen and Rosie. And overseeing the competition are three judges; Brian Burke, former Super Garden winner Monica Alvarez, and Carol Marks. In tonight's show, viewers met 32-year-old gardener Chris Walsh from Wicklow. Chris wanted to design a fantastic garden for Brazilian couple Aline and Marcelo which was tailored to their needs, but incorporated his own sustainable style. Advertisement read more on Super Garden With a background in environmental science, Chris studied wildlife biology in IT Tralee and has worked in environmental consultancy. Despite his love for that work, he ultimately decided to pursue his passion for gardening by taking a part-time course in the Garden Design Academy. Whilst on work experience as part of his course with a Dublin-based landscape company, Chris was inspired to set up his own landscaping business Birch & Fern. His design passions lie with transforming blank spaces, which is part of the reason he applied to Super Garden, to show what can be achieved in a small space. Advertisement Most read in News TV Chris has been a big fan of the show and, as a new business owner, the opportunity for him to go to Bord Bia Bloom would be the pinnacle. Putting that dream to the test, he designed a garden for new homeowners Aline and Marcelo, in their house in Baker Hall, Navan. Joe Duffy fights back tears on air The happy couple emphasised how important it was for them to have a barbecue area to entertain family and friends, as Marcelo is a chef. With this in mind, Chris hoped to create a culinary canopy design, with planting being the key. Advertisement He also planned to attract wildlife to the garden, bringing in his love for the environment. HOUSE THAT? Kicking off his build, Chris dug up the green lawn that initially consumed the garden just in time for his new foundation to arrive. Chris enlisted some help to begin measuring the garden and plotting the patio area. Ensuring the garden was even was a major concern as Chris wanted level ground between grass, stone and patio. Advertisement With much of the work underway, Chris was ready to start paving the path, however, he ran into a roadblock with his near 20-year-old mixer, as it was mixing the materials too slowly. Reluctantly, Chris splurged to purchase a new mixer, allowing him to be able to begin paving. From there it was smooth sailing as his design came together under a last-minute crunch with his fellow contestants helping Chris to get his planting finished. After seeing the results of their new family-oriented garden, Aline and Marcelo admitted they were blown away. Advertisement Once it was finished the judges surveyed the garden, with Monica noting: "it has such a wow factor". However, Brian insisted: "It has a wow factor, I'm not sure if it's the wow factor." Carol offered her thoughts, adding: "It is such a low maintenance garden." 4 Chris' passion lies in environmentally friendly design Credit: RTE Advertisement
