Latest news with #TheGrassAdvantage
Irish Independent
07-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Bord Bia Bloom in photos: Looking back at Wicklow's award-winning gardens
Wicklow People Wicklow garden designers, exhibitors and floral artists all landed awards at Bord Bia Bloom 2025, taking home a total of six medals. Bord Bia Bloom attracted more than 100,000 visitors to Dublin's Phoenix Park over the June bank holiday weekend, and Wicklow exhibitors more than played their part. Calary-based designer Tünde Perry designed two gardens for this year's festival, including the Universal Pictures Ireland-sponsored 'How to Train Your Dragon Garden', inspired by the upcoming live-action remake. Tünde was awarded a silver in the show garden category for her 'Manor Farm – 250 Years Taste and Tradition' garden, which celebrated Manor Farm's 250-year anniversary. The train track-inspired path, crafted from recycled railway sleepers and gravel, symbolises the journey from Manor Farm's origins in rural Ireland to the heart of the capital. Dublin's Manor Street is referenced in a creative sculpture made from metal rods. An authentic wildflower meadow, native trees and shrubs, and a regenerative oat and wheat field is a nod to Manor Farm's farming roots and sustainable future. To honour Manor Farm's home in Cavan, the garden features a water element, reflecting the county's famous 365 lakes. The biodiverse, sensory-rich garden features native species like hazel, hawthorn, elder and birch, interwoven with herbs and fragrant plants. Robert Moore from Kilmacanogue, won a silver guild for 'The Grass Advantage' garden he designed for the National Dairy Council. The garden highlights the beauty of Ireland's natural pasture with its white clover grass mix forming a naturally enriching multi-species sward. At its centre, a large, five-metre-high milk churn sculpture symbolises the cultural heritage of Irish dairy production and celebrates the grass-based system that is the foundation of Ireland's world-renowned dairy produce. St Mary's and St Gerard's National School were highly commended for their postcard garden supported by Tirlán CountryLife, which was created by 4th class students and embodied the school ethos of caring, connection and the love of learning. Lynn Stringer of Kilcoole received bronze in the botanical and floral art section for her watercolour painting 'Golden Oats', while she was awarded a silver gild for watercolour and pencil inspired 'In the Stone Wall' . Patricia Morrison received a bronze award for her botanical based watercolour painting.
Agriland
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Agriland
NDC to showcase ‘grass advantage' at Bord Bia Bloom
The National Dairy Council (NDC) is set to return to this year's Bord Bia Bloom, which takes place in Dublin's Phoenix Park over the June Bank Holiday weekend. The farmer-funded marketing agency will celebrate Irish dairy farming with a host of interactive events, educational talks, and dairy tastings over the five-day event. This is NDC's fourth time at Bord Bia Bloom, with the agency saying the event 'provides an excellent opportunity to promote sustainable dairy production and educate visitors on dairy nutrition'. Bloom This year, NDC will have two areas – the first being a large concept garden, 'The Grass Advantage' designed by Robert Moore. The garden highlights the beauty of Ireland's natural pasture, with its white clover grass mix forming a naturally enriching multi-species sward. At its centre, a five-metre-high milk churn sculpture symbolises the cultural heritage and global reputation of Irish dairy. The garden is inspired by the many initiatives farmers are undertaking to improve biodiversity through sustainable farm management. It is designed with a strong emphasis on sustainability and constructed with minimum impact on the environment. The planting is representative of Irish dairy pastures and all materials are recycled, and boundary fences and the sculpture are supported by environmentally sensitive, reusable ground screws. NDC In the second area, NDC will host a dedicated schools hub within the main concourse, promoting the Moo Crew Schools programme and dairy nutrition education. The area is designed to look like an actual classroom, with imagery and diagrams promoting 3-5 servings of dairy a day. Visitors to the NDC area will be able to taste premium Irish yogurt, cheese, and milk, while listening to talks on the future of food, bone health, and the benefits of dairy. Dee Laffan, editor of Scoop Food Magazine will be chatting to some of Ireland's best loved chefs. In addition, the All Ireland Jiving champions Niamh Doyle and Conor O'Donnell will take a spin in the NDC garden on Friday and Saturday afternoon. Some of Ireland's top athletes will also be present, including former Irish rugby international Fiona Coghlan, GAA player Vikki Wall, and rower Ross Corrigan to discuss the importance of good nutrition with Dr. Sharon Madigan from Sport Ireland. Farming Children across Ireland were invited to share their visions of the future of farming, and the winning children will be chatting about their dreams for the future at the NDC stand. NDC's farmer ambassadors will also be on hand to chat to the public about sustainable dairy production Some of Ireland's top agri influencers will discuss succession and the future generation of farmers. MEP Nina Carberry will also visit the NDC stand, while three women will share their experiences of marrying dairy farmers and life on the land. Bord Bia Bloom will run from Thursday, May 29 to Monday, June 2 on a 70ac site in Phoenix Park and is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors.
