Find Landscape and Garden Design and Build Professionals in Ireland
Go to our Landscape Architect, Garden Designer and Landscape Contractor pages to find lists of Accredited Design and Build Professionals. These pages give you some basic information on what each of the three professions do. This will help you successfully chose the discipline you need.
For information on the Garden and Landscape Designers Association visit their website, Facebook Page and Twitter Feed.
The Irish landscape Institute publish information relating to Irish landscape Architecture at their website.
The Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland publish information about themselves on their website.
Irish Landscape Design News & Information
Garden and Landscape Designers Seminar, Saturday 28th January 2012
Biodiversity and Sustain-ability in Design – Isn’t that the Question?
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There has never been a more interesting or exciting time to be involved in the design of outdoor spaces. Trends and fashions come and go in landscape design mostly with an emphasis on the aesthetic and style of the space but more recently there has been a sea change in how we approach our green spaces. There is now a need, borne of more sustainable ideals, for green spaces to fulfil a more multifunctional role – including rainwater management, providing wildlife habitats, enhancing biodiversity, climate amelioration and improvement in air quality, incorporating green roofs, rainwater harvesting, wet gardens, recycling in the form of composting and also more local food production. Sustainable design which supports biodiversity necessitates rethinking our approach to many aspects of design.
Why has sustainable design and maintaining biological diversity become of such critical importance? Currently, do we have the ability to be sustainable in a meaningful way and do we really understand the issues involved?
How we design our future environments could be critical to our own survival. Every choice we make, from the materials we use to our choice of planting, has an impact on biodiversity, and therefore an impact on ourselves.
Biodiversity loss is the result of habitat loss, destruction and degradation of ecosystems, pollution, and climate change. Always fascinating to listen to, Dr Matthew Jebb, www.botanicgardens.ie botanist and Director of the National Botanic Gardens will show us how the future of mankind is inextricably linked with the future welfare of the many species and ecosystems with which we co-exist in his intriguing talk on “The Science of Botany being not only generally ufeful, but even abfolutely neceffary to us Mortals”
Nature is dynamic and ever changing so that protecting and enhancing biodiversity can be complex and challenging. How do we balance the protection of existing habitats with the possible creation of new ones? An industrial wasteland or an overgrown garden can be home to many species. Is it right to return it to a previous more natural landscape or impose a new order upon it?
Through his years of experience in working in an ethical way with landscapes Rick Darke, www.rickdarke.com based in Pennsylvania USA presents ‘The Layered Landscape’ in which, facilitated by his wonderful photography, he will take us through landscape projects where these challenges have been reconciled to produce sustainable and biologically diverse landscapes.
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Finally Phil Askew Landscape Architect for the Olympic Development Association will take us on a journey through one of the most exciting, cutting edge and largest new urban parks in the UK in over a century – 'The 2012 Olympic Park - a sustainable legacy for London'.
This is an example of a sustainable and biodiverse landscape created from former industrial land. Habitat creation reflects the diversity of the existing site before construction but also the restoration of native vegetation which has long ago disappeared from the area. Restoration will also be carried out on the River Lea its floodplains and other new habitats created – wetlands, reed beds, ponds, woodland and species rich grassland.
The Garden and Landscape Designer’s Association are looking forward to a day of insight and lively debate.
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DON’T MISS THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THREE FASCINATING SPEAKERS, PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR SUBJECT.
Who should come: Landscape Architects, Garden Designers, Landscape Contractors, Architects, Engineers, Gardeners, Ecologists and all those curious to learn more from a panel of experts in their fields.
As the design calendar event of the year places are already being snapped up. To secure your place at this exciting event you are encouraged to book early. For tickets and further information contact the GLDA office on: 01 2940092, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via www.glda.ie.
This event is proudly supported by Bord Bia, Ireland’s Food Board.
Annual Garden And landscape Designers Seminar
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The annual Irish Garden and Landscape Designers Association seminar will take place this year on Saturday January 28th at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin in Dublin. The speakers will include Rick Dark, Mathew Jebb and Phil Askew. The title of the seminar is Biodiversity and Sustain-Ability; Isn't that the Question? As always for this popular Irish gardening event you need to get your tickets a quickly as possible from the GLDA office 01-2940092 or by e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Landscape and Art project for Smithfield, Dublin
Following on from her successful outdoor installation at the Bloom Garden Festival in Dublin earlier this year artist and landscape architect Sophie von Maltzan of Fieldworks and Strategies has now formulated a new plan. This is centred on the Smithfield area of Dublin and involves turning a strip of existing wasteland into an outdoor art gallery and community garden space. The space will be used by the community on a number of levels, providing exhibition space for professional and amateur artists, providing a community focused garden and in the process increasing the level of bio-diversity in the area.
For full information on the project and to interact with Sophie go to the Facebook page that she has set up.
Stay on this page for news and information stories or go to our Landscape Architect, Garden Designer and Landscape Contractor pages to find lists of Accredited Design and Build Professionals
Lancelot "Capability" Brown
IN 1762 James Fitzgerald, first duke of Leinster, wrote to Lancelot Brown, then living on the outskirts of London, offering him £1,000 to cross the Irish Sea and create a picturesque garden at Carton, in Co Kildare. The invitation was declined, Brown allegedly replying that “he had not yet finished England”
Writing in the Irish Times Robert O'Byrne introduces the new book, The Omnipotent Magician: Lancelot “Capability” Brown 1716-1783 By Jane Brown Chatto Windus, 384pp. £20
Outdoor art gallery by Fieldworks and Strategies
Instead of trying to bring new punters into galleries the Fieldworks Strategies outdoor gallery introduces artwork in this "not-so-white-cube" environment built from pallets and concrete reinforcement bars at minimal cost. The Outdoor Gallery was seen in Dublin at Bloom 2011 and a series of images are available on the Fieldworks a
Life without Peat
Alison O'Riordan in the Independent.ie reports that Irish gardeners must start planning for a future without peat. This is the message from celebrity gardeners who are calling for peat-based composts to be phased out completely and replaced with more environmentally friendly choices.
Fears are growing rapidly in the gardening world that digging up Irish bogs is destroying important wildlife habitat and driving climate change. In fact, 42 per cent of the controversial compost used in gardens continues to be peat, with many celebrity gardeners admitting amateur gardeners refuse to phase it out.
The annual (or perhaps perennial) anti-gardening column by Ann Marie Hourihane
I have written before about my devoted gardener friend who gave up watching Gardeners’ World because it made her feel so inadequate. But I return to her because to me she is like the lifelong Irish soccer fans who don’t go to games anymore – an illustration of everything that is wrong with the game, Bill. Although gardening has always been a ruthless business in which the weak are crushed under foot, like so many aromatics amusingly planted between slabs, the last 20 years have made it particularly merciless. It is all that perfection laid out before us in full colour: enough to do your head in
Save Ireland's Forests - The Woodland League
The CARE2 Petitionsite alerts us to the fact that: "The Irish Government is moving closer to a huge sell-off of the public forests, currently managed by Coillte (The Irish Forestry Board), to private investors. An area greater than 1 million acres, equivalent to two medium sized counties, will be lost forever. This will include some of our most valuable native woodlands, wild places and some of the last refuges of our native flora and fauna. Interest has been expressed by Swiss finance company Helvetia Wealth - who own the International Forestry Fund (IFF) - chaired by Bertie Ahern, (ex-prime minister of Ireland) as well as The China Investment Corporation ." To make a difference please sign the petition, the target of which is the President of Ireland and the Irish Government; go to CARE2 Petitionsite. For comprehensive information on Irish Native Woodland please visit the Woodland League
Edible Hedge
Laura Cummings of Scotsman.Com reports: An "edible hedge" was planted at Pilrig Park yesterday to launch Edinburgh's Britain in Bloom bid this year. It will be made up of plants that produce edible crops, which will be used to provide local food such as jams, chutneys and jellies. Rose hip, sloe, crab apple, elder, rowan and hazel will also be planted and used. When fully grown, the hedge will consist of 500 to 600 plants.
Urgent Call for a Levy on Garden Peat Products
"PEOPLE are being urged to join conservation groups and gardening suppliers in calling on the Government to introduce a levy on garden peat products. Peat bogs are a vital carbon sink and the market for peat-based compost in the UK is responsible for 630,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year - the equivalent of an extra 300,000 cars on our roads. The majority of peat sold in the UK is imported from Ireland and Baltic countries." The story is continued in the Salisbury Journal
Ireland's Secret Gardens
Pól Ó Conghaile in the Irish Independent explores the Top Ten Secret Irish Gardens and gives contact details and other information useful for visitors
“Living Landscape” d3 Housing Tomorrow
Studiomarcovermeulen was rewarded with honorable mention in the d3 Housing Tomorrow Competition for their project entitled “Living Landscape.” The central theme for the design is the landscape experience, with a study of the traditional Dutch housing as a typological precedent. The presentation is interesting in that while traditional approaches have been retained to dutch high density housing some interesting departures have also been made. Aligning houses side on to streets and turning all house in the same direction to avail of solar access are among the interesting concepts included
The Irish Garden
The Irish Garden is an excellent choice monthly magazine for anybody interesed in gardening in Ireland. The magzine also has an excellent online presence at Garden.ie... The Place to Grow. It is well worth signing up as a member if only to receive their regular e-mail updates that deal with all sorts of seasonal and relevant garden activities.
A new book by Jane Powers
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THE LIVING GARDEN, A Place That Works with Nature by Jane Powers. Price: £25. Publication date: 7th April 2011
“I spent my teens and twenties looking for the meaning of life. And then, in my thirties, I found the answer. It was in the compost heap.” Jane Powers from her introduction.
In The Living Garden Jane Powers writes entertainingly and expertly on how we can manage our plots – big or small – in a way that is both welcoming to wildlife and good for the rest of the planet. By cutting out harmful chemicals and using the right plants for our climate and conditions, we can make a garden that has a life of its own, in which flora and fauna are intricately interwoven. Jane describes, in her lyrical but commonsense writing, how to plan and plant for birds, bees and other creatures (including humans); and how to grow our own food, look after our soil, make compost and plant potions, sow and save seeds, propagate plants and carry out other essential tasks. She is in favour of sustainable, eco-friendly methods, but is realistic about her limitations.
Jane points out: “Gardening helps me know my place in the world. Nature, I keep reminding myself, is stronger and more organised than any of us on our own. Working with it is a better plan than fighting it.”
The Living Garden is the book for all gardeners, both new and experienced, who want to work in tune with nature to create a beautiful space outside their door. It is illustrated with Jane’s photographs, many of them taken in her own garden.
Jane Powers, one of our most respected gardening journalists, was born in Ireland to American parents and spent her childhood moving back and forth between the United States and Ireland. Her father was the novelist and short story writer J. F. Powers. She has been Gardening Correspondent of the Irish Times since 1997. She has written for many other publications in Britain and Ireland. She lives in Dun Laoghaire, just south of Dublin, where she gardens organically.
The Living garden is available from Frances Lincoln Publishers, Amazon UK, Amazon USA, and Barnes & Noble
For further information, or to talk to Jane Powers, please contact: Emma O’Bryen, Frances Lincoln Publicity Tel: 0044 20 7619 0098 E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Garden Archaeology.
Working in his garden led to an exciting and unusual discovery recently for one gardener, stonepages.com reports:
"An Irish archaeology enthusiast in Co Westmeath has unearthed human remains dating back more than 4,000 years in his back garden. Pat Tiernan of Rickardstown, Collinstown had been excavating soil for the construction of a shed, at the rear of his home when a spell of bad weather led to a small landslide. I looked out the window and saw bones protruding out the back." The bones were accompanied by an earthenware pot that may be much older and the national museum is examining the find.
Stay on this page for news and information stories or go to our Landscape Architect, Garden Designer and Landscape Contractor pages to find lists of Accredited Design and Build Professionals
SAVING THE ABUTILON PITCAIRNENSE
Irish Wildlife
Joe Barry writing in the Independent.ie this week has asked us to consider wildlife when we are making decisions on things that we want to plant. He provides "a simple short list of a few useful species I grow around my farm and in my garden." They are all hardy, easy to establish and, as well as looking good, are much appreciated by the birds and bees."
Stay on this page for news and information stories or go to our Landscape Architect, Garden Designer and Landscape Contractor pages to find lists of Accredited Design and Build Professionals
Successful Tree Export Business
‘‘Our strategy is to continue to grow the business and we aim to have 50 per cent of our operation dedicated to exporting over the next three years," said Peadar Collins, founder of the Irish Tree Centre. ‘‘Exporting such large trees and keeping roots intact is a challenge, but our business is as strong as any of its kind in Europe."
