Sunday was daddy and daughter trip to Hillsborough Castle, decided to take connie as the event said 'lots for kids to do' and we weren't dissapointed. We headed up for the 10am opening, beat the crowd, and get in and out before its all 'mudded up'...(clever eh!?)
The Hillsborough Garden Festival is magically set in the walled garden of Hillsborough Castle, the show itself covers the entire walledgarden (and a bit at the front) and then you get to visit the impressive gardens during the show too....well worth the tenner to get it in. (under 16's free)
There are themed gardens, show gardens, stands, stalls, food, music, picnic areas, kids activities.....its cheesy to say, but something for all the family!!
The Hillsborough Garden Festival is magically set in the walled garden of Hillsborough Castle, the show itself covers the entire walledgarden (and a bit at the front) and then you get to visit the impressive gardens during the show too....well worth the tenner to get it in. (under 16's free)
There are themed gardens, show gardens, stands, stalls, food, music, picnic areas, kids activities.....its cheesy to say, but something for all the family!!
of all the Show gardens Connie loved the B+Q one, there was lots for kids and the staff manning the display were as keen as punch for kids to stroll on and explore the garden, connie loved the houses, the water, the plants, the swing...everything about it. A real family back garden...and you could buy nearly every plants shwon in the garden on the day too...(clever selling!!)
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Now where the B+Q garden was all coloured sheds and shiny water the garden which won Best in Show (from www.gardenersfriendni.com ) was a different kettle of fish completely. Using a purpose built cottage front as a backdrop this garden was all about 'old time ireland'. Heavily planted with natives to "celebrate what is possible with an irish floral palette", the guggling stream (200 litres a minute) was an attractive but not overpowering sounds, and the multi stemmed white birch and the mass planting of foxgloves worked wonderfully with the moss covered stones lining the streams edge. This was a true show-garden in that you weren't allowed into it, but from behind the hawthorn hedge there was lots to be admired, and the helpful leaflets being handed out by designer Johnny Knox was packed full of plant lists.
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Now talking of winners, Conservation Volunteers from Derry won the U105 team build challange with a garden build around the theme of the new Derry peace bridge and the citys proud history of music. a fine bit of wood carving from Ivan Black and the guys.
and the Titanic theme from the schools gardens was impressive, with each having a unique slant or angle to the theme, i loved this one, which had a working beehive incorporated into the bow of the doomed vessel... (see the right hand side picture below)
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Now where there was a wee bit of bee-hive action going on in the Titanic, Ards Borough Council were all about the bees and biodiversity in their Silver Medal winning garden. With lots of habitats, native planting, wildflowers and marshland this was all about being big-friendly. A show garden which was nice and open, and we were all allowed to get up close and personal and have a good rummage around...
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The stand from Wilow Tree Wood Products was fantastic. a selection of hen houses and the candle on the top of the cake was a baby goat they had. Connie was highly impressed here!!. The hens always seemed to have kids around them and there was always a buzz about their stand. The Hen houses were great pieces, with handy wheels on them to cart them about the garden too....
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The Greenmount College stand was another highly impressive affair, winning a silver medal in the Small Garden section, combining some show-garden display with smaller themed areas highlighting skills training and courses on offer in the College. The Stainless Steel waterfall and stepping stones were great against the black woodwork, and the mini putting green was a hoot to practice on....
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And the Best in Show in the Small Garden catergory was this 'Hobbit House' from GreenleafNI, a fabulous space....i know how Alice in Wonderland felt..i wass mad keen to go through the door too!!! The rickety fence added to the charm, and the grass roof was a nice touch..
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Plants plants and plants!!.....now apart from the show gardens and the stands there were also some great plant stands, selling all the weird and the wonderful and a massive range inbetween!...the stands all seemed to be doing brisk business...with lots of plant enthuiasts about, and the stand holders offering specialist knowledge, I especially admired the Carnivirous plant display...
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There was lots on show and lots of offer at Hillsborough, the weather was good on the Sunday and the car parks were in good condition, but due to the rain on friday there was a superb shuttle bus service running from the nearby Park-in-Ride areas, overall a very well run show, lots for the family to see and do (in the pic connie is making a wee chick out of playdoh - she was showing it off proudly in the b+q garden earlier!), from the show gardens to the scarecrows to the jazz, to the gourmet burgers to the lawnmowers.....everything from A-Z!....if you didn't go this year make sure you go next year, and if you did go this year let me know what you thought of the show?
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