ITB (Institute of Technology Blanchardstown) are putting the final touches to their show garden which will be one of 27 stunning large, medium and small show gardens which will be judged by International independent judging panels and gold, Silver, Gilt and Bronze medals will be awarded all as part of Bloom taking place in the Phoenix Park. Bloom, Ireland’s largest gardening, food and family event, takes place during the June bank holiday weekend for 5 day (Thursday 2nd – Monday 6th June).
The ITB garden promises to be a thing of beauty, it has been created through imagination, cooperation and clever use of recycled material. This inspiring garden has been a true labour of love with input from ITB students, staff and the local community, embracing the need to be creative with materials, ideas and budget.
Rachel Freeman, Horticulture Program Manager, ITB said of ITB’s Show Garden, “we knew from the outset that we wanted to harness all the energy within ITB and make the garden reflect what we value as a college; diversity, creativity and imagination being top of the list. Designing our show garden gave us a chance to involve staff and students along with the local community. We also worked with the children from local school St Philips, Mountview, which was a real joy and although the build has been tiring, even exhausting at times it will be so worth it!!”
“Using reclaimed materials, we are creating a garden from discarded items e.g. brick and stone, wood, left over from a now defunct building boom. We intend to reclaim/restore/build our own garden and the garden furniture and water feature. We have built from waste metals, and some purchased materials, a bubbling water feature, with four mosaic tiles inset. This water feature was created from scratch by our own staff in the plumbing section of ITB. It has truly been a fantastic joint effort of the college and community”, continued Rachel Freeman.
The garden furniture was designed and made in house at ITB and includes funky cube seating from waste angle iron and purchased weld mesh metals, topped off with recycled cushions from the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, that will look contemporary and chic. The deck will be made from recycled scaffold boards, wine bottles will be used in places as edging material; Old galvanise to provide an interesting perimeter wall.
Staff members, Horticulturist and Artist Ciarnad Ryan from Tipperary, and Senior Carpentry Technician Pat Brady from Dunboyne, along-side ITB student Eamonn Doyle from Carlow, have modified, sanded and painted an ESB cable reel, turning it into a beautiful garden table. The garden also features a Bug Hotel and Bug ball, designed by 2nd year student Eamonn Doyle. Plants in the garden were sourced from Yellow Furze Nurseries, Tully Nurseries and Schram. Grasses will be mixed with colourful herbaceous to tie in with our brief
The garden also includes a mosaic table, the items for the mosaic were gathered by staff at ITB and the students of local primary school, St Philips, Mountview. The children along with their teacher made the mosaic insets. This group of children are all gardeners and, joined ITB at Bloom last year for a day out. They thoroughly enjoyed their time, and we wanted to encourage this enthusiasm for gardening by involving them further this year. This move is indicative of the inclusiveness and community spirit of ITB. St Phillips in Mountview, Dublin 15 is only one of a number of local school gardens that ITB support by, providing funding for their school garden through the dormant accounts funds with regular advice and consultancy on their ‘eco friendly ’ and ‘vegetable’ garden projects from the ITB Horticulture staff.
The school children of St Phillips in Mountview, will be joining ITB at their garden on Thursday 2nd June to see the finished garden and view their mosaic in the completed water feature.
Should you wish to visit the ITB Garden at Bloom please register in advance of the show at : http://bloominthepark.com/press/
Bloom is open daily from 10am-6pm. Advance tickets are on sale now from €15 – kids go free! www.bloominthepark.com
ITB (Institute of Technology Blanchardstown)
ITB is located in Blanchardstown, a growing suburb of Dublin. The College directly serves the greater Blanchardstown area and the north and west of Dublin City and county. Like other Institutes of Technology, it also draws students from neighbouring counties, such as Meath, Kildare, Cavan and Louth as well as from further afield. ITB welcomed 1,127 new first year students this September (878 full time students and 249 part-time students)
ITB are committed to introducing their students to the latest technologies and providing a learning environment where the use of up-to-date and innovative techniques and equipment is the norm. To this end, lecture theatres and laboratories are state-of-the-art, and ITB aims to retain this leading edge as the Institute develops further.
For further information, imagery from photocall or to speak with Rachel Freeman.
