Garden Show Ireland is the only show in Northern Ireland exclusively devoted to gardening.

Gardens of Imagination and Design Clinic

This area of the Garden Show provided one of the main highlights for visitor and media attention. Visitors were invited to wander through the gardens and view some of the latest trends in garden design, plant selections and colour combinations as well as learning from the experts how to blend landscapes harmoniously with the environment.

The Design Clinic offered visitors a unique opportunity to gain one on one advice from designers of the show gardens.

Corporate Challenge

A new feature of Garden Show Ireland, the Corporate Garden Challenge, sponsored by Grafton Recruitment invited teams from companies throughout Ireland to design and build a garden for Garden Show Ireland.

Charlie Dimmock, from BBC Ground Force fame, was part of the judging panel for the Corporate Challenge.

Garden of Wisdom

Sponsored by Belfast City Council’s Brighter Belfast initiative, the Garden of Wisdom Seminar Programme took place throughout the duration of the Show. This was one of the highlights of the Garden Show where visitors had the unique opportunity to meet the experts and take part in the popular Garden Show ‘Gardener’s Question Time’ with renowned garden celebrities, such as Bunny Guinness, Dermot O’Neill and John Cushnie,

Little Green Fingers

Garden Show Ireland is all about knowledge and learning – encouraging today’s children to become tomorrow’s horticulturalists. This year Environment and Heritage Service sponsored the Little Green Fingers, allowing visiting children to get their hands dirty and learn about biodiversity and waste management in a fun and interactive way! Featuring a packed programme ranging from theatrical pieces to creating a teepee from recycled rubbish, Little Green Fingers encouraged children to learn more about protecting the environment.

Miniature Show Gardens

Children aged between 8 and 11 from schools in the Integrated Sector designed miniature gardens which were judged by the Garden Show’s judging panel. This competition was designed to be educational and children were able to discover how to grow their own plants in an exciting and dynamic environment.

Grower‘s Hall

Proudly displaying the largest number of nurseries to be show cased at a garden show in Ireland this year, the Growers Hall at Garden Show Ireland was bursting with colourful displays of specialist plants and flowers from local and national producers. With such an exciting number of growers present, this feature of Garden Show Ireland was a notable attraction for visitors and the media. Visitors were able to purchase unusual plants and flowers and be inspired by the displays.

Country Market and Garden Gourmet Demonstrations

The Country Market showcased some of our best local food and beverage producers while the Country Gourmet area showed visitors how to use this local produce to produce healthy, nutritious and delicious meals. Celebrity chef Jenny Bristow was on hand to demonstrate her culinary skills and share her expertise in cooking fresh produce from the garden.

Artisans Market

Visitors had the chance to discover some of Irelands and UK’s best artisans selling handcrafted wares specifically designed with the garden in mind.

Exhibitor Areas

The exhibitor areas showcased everything needed for the garden that isn’t growing – from Wellington boots to lawnmowers, garden furniture to barbeques and lots more.

Village Green

A real draw for all visitors! The Village Green offered a chance to relax and enjoy some jazz while enjoying the sunshine. With wine tasting courtesy of Chateau de la Ligne from Bordeaux, home of the “wine geese” and a Beer Garden by Northern Ireland’s Hilden Brewery, the Village Green added to the relaxing gardening environment where cream teas and strawberries and champagne were the order of the day!

Fish and Garden Ponds

This area offered the chance to find out about building and maintaining a pond as well as the care of Koi Carp.

Bees and Honey

A viewing hive allowed visitors to get up close and personal with some of Northern Ireland’s bees. Experts told visitors how to encourage bees into the garden, how the bees make honey and offered a chance to taste some different honeys.

All these elements combined to give visitors access to a truly unique show. Visitors were able to view inspirational gardens, gain unique access to garden designers and garden experts, buy specialist plants and flowers, learn how to grow and care for their new purchases, teach their children how to garden, make children aware of where some of their food comes from as well as relax and enjoy an interesting and informative day out.