Westland Horticulture has announced its sponsorship of the Cultivating Talent category of show gardens at this year’s Bord Bia Bloom.
Bord Bia Bloom, taking place in Phoenix Park, Dublin, from the 30th May to the 3rd June, is Ireland’s largest gardening festival. It celebrates horticulture, culinary delights, and sustainable living. The family-friendly event draws in over 100,000 visitors every year, and aims to inspire, educate, and entertain visitors, with show gardens, talks, demonstrations, and children’s activities.
At the heart of Westland’s ethos lies a commitment to nurturing emerging talent within horticulture. From the annual Rising Stars programme, which supports potential stars of the future within garden centres, to the impactful New Horizon Fund, that donates gardening bundles worth £1,000 (or Euro equivalent) to community gardening endeavours across the UK and Ireland, Westland firmly believes in inspiring and supporting talent to ensure the horticulture industry continues to flourish.
Championing the next generation of garden designers and horticulture professionals, Bord Bia Bloom launched Cultivating Talent in 2023. The programme provides financial support and one-to-one mentoring to emerging designers, helping them to produce their first ever show garden.
Keith Nicholson, Marketing Director, at Westland Horticulture, commented: “Bord Bia Bloom is a true celebration of horticulture, and sponsoring the Cultivating Talent show gardens aligns seamlessly with Westland’s core values of nurturing and inspiring emerging talent. Our team will be on hand to support the winners on every step of their journey of bringing their designs to life at Bloom, and we are developing an array of exciting and immersive activities for families visiting the event.”
Kerrie Gardiner, Show Garden & Horticulture Content Manager, for Bord Bia Bloom, added: “Through programmes like Cultivating Talent, barriers that might traditionally prevent emerging designers from applying to showcase at events such as Bloom are removed; and with that, creativity, talent and new perspectives are allowed to shine. We’re thrilled to welcome Westland Horticulture on board as sponsors of Cultivating Talent, and this support ensures we can continue to mentor and support future garden designers.”
