If you’d like the chance to build a garden at one of Ireland’s leading festivals and win €400, the Clare Garden Festival would like to hear from you!
They’ve just launched their Pop-Up Garden Community Challenge to encourage community gardeners, youth groups, school gardeners and neighbours to show what they can do with a space just 3m x 3m.
The theme is ‘Greener Gardening’ and designs should aim to help householders and gardeners to protect the environment and use fewer chemicals. Last year’s competition attracted some fantastic entries, with the winning garden, ‘Wizard of Oz’, designed and planted by gardeners from the Kilrush Community Garden. The tiny garden was created entirely out of upcycled materials, and was praised by the judges as ‘very artistic’.
“The Pop-Up Garden challenge always adds a fantastic community spirit on the day and in the run up to the festival,” said festival manager Carmen Cronin.
All the gardens will be on display at the Festival on 30 April, with a cash prize for the winning group.
Entries must be received by 28 February. You’ll find application forms at www.claregardenfestival.com – and you can always pop into the garden centre here in Athlone where we’ll be happy to help you bring your ideas to life!
