The European Commission has sponsored a garden at Bord Bia Bloom to demonstrate the circular economy.
The “Renewed Blooms” garden is designed by David Negus and sponsored by the European Commission in partnership with the Rediscovery Centre, Ireland’s National Centre for the Circular Economy.
The show garden aims to demonstrate and encourage the repurposing of materials.
The garden won a gold medal in the show garden category and also won best in category awards for ‘Most Sustainable Garden’ and ‘Best Medium Garden”.
Nessa Doran O’Reilly from the Rediscovery Centre said she wants to show that reusing something is “the fun bit.”
Whether it is repairing garden furniture or taking materials from something else entirely and reusing it in the garden, the aim is to show that many things can be repurposed.
“The Circular Economy is the story behind the garden”, said the European Commission’s office in Dublin.
“Used materials are given new life. Nature is blended with man-made elements – a discarded railway track and old PVC windows are reinvented. The garden showcases how waste can be transformed into functional, durable, and striking designs.”
It marks the start of European Commission’s “Go Circular” information campaign in Ireland aiming to encourage Irish people to reduce waste and reuse more resources.
Garden designer, David Negus, said he had to be convinced at the beginning of the project.
“As soon as I was introduced to the circular economy side, and the more research I did, I was actually totally on board.”
The European Union wants to build a circular and climate-neutral economy by 2050.
“The Renewed Blooms” garden is designed to challenge our perspectives on waste, inspiring reuse and repurposing.
“The garden highlights the beauty of reclaimed materials while serving as a wildlife habitat and source of inspiration. Every element — from salvaged wood and repurposed metal to upcycled containers — demonstrates the multiple lifecycles of materials. Thoughtfully chosen plants, composting, water efficiency, seed saving, and propagation all underpin the Circular Economy”, the European Commission said.
Peter Power, who is head of the European Commission’s office in Dublin, said the garden will “serve as an inspiration to keen to keen gardeners, it will serve as an inspiration to those who want to help the environment by not throwing things out and giving new life to things that once would have ended up in landfill.”
Bord Bia Bloom takes place on a 70-acre site in Phoenix Park in Dublin. The garden exhibition runs until 2 June.