Ireland’s first Dog Friendly garden is launched at Bloom by Bord Bia today
Award winning garden designer Brian Burke, who is the designer of the Dogs Trust Dog Friendly garden at Bloom, by Bord Bia. Brian is pictured with puppies Cleo and Daisy, whom have recently been adopted from Dogs Trust. ©Fran Veale
Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust, unveiled the first ever Dog Friendly garden at this year’s Bloom, by Bord Bia. The stunning garden features a host of simple, innovative ideas designed to provide fun and stimulation for dogs while maintaining the garden as a safe, relaxing area for the whole family. The Dog Friendly garden is the first initiative in a campaign by Dogs Trust to help make Ireland the best country in the world to be a dog.
A recent survey carried out by Dogs Trust revealed that over 40% of households in Ireland have a dog*, so where better to start with this this ambitious campaign than at home in the garden?
Suzie Carley, Executive Director of Dogs Trust Ireland said:
‘’We are incredibly proud to showcase our Dog Friendly Garden at this year’s Bloom in the Park. It’s a very exciting day for Dogs Trust as it is the official launch of our Dog Friendly Ireland campaign where we will highlight the small but effective changes that can be made in many different aspects of public life, in an effort to make Ireland more friendly and accommodating to dogs and their humans What better way than to start in your own home.The talent behind the Dog Friendly Garden is multi-award winning designer Brian Burke, who has been a pleasure to work with and has successfully realised our vision for the garden and surpassed all expectations’.”
Brian is no stranger to Bord Bia’s Bloom. In 2016 Brian won a Silver Medal with “GOAL’s Damascus Courtyard – War and Peace”, and he received a Silver-Gilt Medal in 2015 for his garden “Non Forsit”. Brian was also the winner of RTE’s Super Garden in 2015. Based in Co. Laois, Brian shares his own garden with his wife Julia, their five children, a donkey, two pigs, four chickens and two dogs.
The idea of creating a Dog Friendly garden resonated with Brian as he explains: “I love the idea that any garden can include simple fun and stimulating ideas for dogs while still being a safe and happy environment for the whole family. I’m delighted with the opportunity to be part of this exciting campaign by Dogs Trust to help make Ireland the best country in the world to be a dog, and with this garden design we’re showing how easy it can be for anyone to be part of this movement, starting in your own back garden.”
The beauty and expertise of this garden lies in the simplicity with which the dog friendly elements are included. With water features, sniffer paths, different textures, tunnels, climbing and digging areas, the garden is a paradise for all family members, whether two or four legged! It also features a vegetable garden and a broad range of traditional and lesser known dog friendly plants and herbs.
No Dog Friendly garden would be complete without dogs and there will plenty of four legged visitors from Dogs Trust to the Dog Friendly garden throughout the festival! While dogs are not allowed access to the event, the organisers have made an exception this year for some of the very special dogs from Dogs Trust, who will demonstrate just how much fun can be had in a Dog Friendly garden, whilst also hoping they will meet their perfect forever family at Bloom.
After showcasing at Bord Bia’s Bloom, the Dog Friendly garden will be fully reinstated at the charity’s rehoming centre in Finglas to be enjoyed by all the canine residents awaiting their forever homes.
*Source: B&A Research 2016
Bloom by Bord Bia
Bord Bia’s Bloom, Ireland’s largest gardening, food and family festival will take place in the Phoenix Park, Dublin from Thursday 1st June – Monday 5th June. Now a key feature of the June Bank Holiday Weekend, Bloom attracted more than 100,000 people last year.
Bord Bia’s annual showcase of the best of Ireland’s horticulture and food industry will once again feature a range of impressive show gardens, food features and family entertainment. Tickets are on sale now on www.bloominthepark.com. Don’t forget, kids go free!
Follow Bloom on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bloominthepar
Dogs Trust Ireland – Dog Friendly Ireland campaign
The Dog Friendly Ireland campaign encourages simple but effective changes to many different aspects of public life, in an effort to make Ireland more accessible to dogs and their humans meaning those who currently own dogs will have more choice about where and how to include their furry friend in to their daily lives. These simple changes could also remove obstacles currently preventing people from getting a dog, turning their dream of owning a dog in to a reality.
Dogs Trust Ireland
Dogs Trust has been working in Ireland since 2005 and its mission is to bring an end to the destruction of stray and abandoned dogs through a national responsible dog ownership campaign, including a subsidised neutering and microchipping campaign and an education programme.
There are currently 176 dogs and puppies in Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre, awaiting their forever homes.
Dogs Trust is working towards the day when all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of unnecessary destruction.
Dogs Trust has a non-destruction policy; we never destroy a healthy dog.
The Centre is based at:
Dogs Trust Dublin Rehoming Centre
Ashbourne Road
Finglas
Dublin 11