The glorious May weather is continuing as the gates open today to Northern Ireland’s premier gardening event, the much anticipated Allianz Garden Show Ireland at Antrim Castle Gardens.
Blooming Bouquet Anyone?
Today (Friday 5th May) is the Northern IrelandÕs very own ÒLonely BouquetÓ Day,
the Lonely Bouquet idea is part of a global initiative to spread a little happiness one bloom at a time.
Alice Smyth and Heidi Hassard from Ballymena discovered a lonely bouquet at the stunning Antrim Castle Gardens the setting for the Allianz Garden Show Ireland which starts today Friday 5th May and runs through to 7th May. The Show is open daily from 10am-6pm with parking in town centre car parks and at The Junction with a shuttle bus running. Adults tickets cost £10 (concession £8), the event is FREE for children under 16 and there is a reduced rate for online booking. For more information visit www.gardenshowireland.com.
Promising a fabulous Festival of Flowers, Food and Fun, the three day Show is set to welcome a bumper crowd to the stunning Antrim setting over the weekend.
The Show is considered by gardening experts to be must see event and with household names like BBC’s Joe Swift leading the line-up it is easy to see why. Joe, who anchors the BBC’s coverage for the Chelsea Flower Show every year, will be giving talks on Friday 5 May.
With over twenty Garden visuals for visitors to enjoy, including the show stopping feature garden which draws inspiration from CS Lewis and creations from local community groups and garden designers there will be something to inspire all levels of gardeners. While the Growers Pavilion will house specialist nurseries with thousands of plants available to purchase from the expert growers who will be on hand for advice along with the opportunity to win a 3D landscape design package by Acheson Glover.
Damien O’Neil, Head of Marketing & Communications for Allianz Ireland remarked,
“Allianz is delighted, once again, to be title sponsor in 2017. Last year’s event was a huge success and this year looks set to be even bigger and better. Allianz is committed to sustainability of the environment and we recognise the big part that our gardens can play in achieving this goal. We know that the Show not only brings communities together but also showcases the very best in the world of gardening with all its attendant benefits. We are very much looking forward to all that this year’s Allianz Garden Show Ireland has to offer.”
Food continues to be a central part of the Show with lively demonstrations from resident chef Paula McIntyre who will be joined on Saturday 6 May by Big Allotment Challenge judge Thane Prince. The Food NI Pavilion will be jammed pack with appetising treats to take home with a diverse range on offer from craft beers to dry cured bacon, not forgetting good old soda bread baked in situ by the Krazi Baker.
Visitors to the Show will then be able to step outside and dine alfresco in the Click Energy Relax & Recharge Area. They will continue to be spoilt for choice with the award-winning Broughgammon Farm serving up their famous goat burgers alongside Born and Raised Waffles creating their delicious handcrafted Liege waffles.
Eddie Rowan, Events Manager at Tourism Northern Ireland commented,
“Antrim Castle Gardens are an historical gem and a magnificent venue to once again host Allianz Garden Show Ireland. The event attracts great crowds to Antrim. Tourism Northern Ireland is pleased to see the 2017 show celebrates the legacy of the Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink, with a Food NI Pavilion packed with local produce.”
The Show programme is packed with musical performances from Sestina, Martello Jazz Band, the Brass Band from the City of Belfast School of Music and the Sing for Life community choir all performing at various stages of the three day Show. Also joining the arts line up is a unique exhibition of large tree hanging displays of over 30 quilts which will be suspended from trees in the gardens.
A little bit of Narnia will appear in Antrim in the CS Lewis inspired gardens created by the local community and charity groups and with surprise visits expected from Mr Tumnus and others it is set to be a magical weekend for fans of the Chronicles of Narnia. Little ones will also delight as they can create their own fairy houses, design and fly their own kites and enjoy some archery and even a spot of climbing.
The family focused event has over the last number of years engaged with schools province wide ensuring that the Show is eagerly anticipated by all the children who take part in the Allianz supported schools challenges. Primary Schools are displaying their ‘Enchanted Garden Container Gardens’, meanwhile Allianz Scarecrow Avenue has come alive with scarecrows created by primary schools in the integrated sector.
The 2017 Allianz Garden Show Ireland will run from 5-7 May and is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Set in the stunning Antrim Castle Gardens the Allianz Garden Show Ireland continues to draw record crowds each year and with extensive local parking at Enkalon and the Junction and a short travel time from Belfast it really is an accessible day out for all.
Adults tickets cost £10 (concession £8), the event is FREE for children under 16 and there is a reduced rate for online booking, for more information on the Show or to book tickets online please visit www.gardenshowireland.com