Cultivating Talent Initiative

In a bid to support the next generation of garden designers and horticulture professionals, Bord Bia Bloom introduced a new initiative, Cultivating Talent, ahead of Bloom 2023. The programme provides financial support and one-to-one mentoring to an emerging designer, helping them to design and deliver their first show garden at the festival.

On foot of a successful pilot last year, which saw Joe Eustace bring his The Next Step show garden to Bloom, the programme returns this year with support from new sponsors, Westland Horticulture.

Following intense competition, two very worthy winners were chosen for Cultivating Talent 2024. Nóra Tombor will present her Rewild! show garden at the festival alongside Sarah Buckley, who has designed The Mind Yourself Garden.

Showcase Your Talent at Bord Bia Bloom

Design a Show Garden

As the centrepiece of Bord Bia Bloom, the show gardens provide an exceptional showcase for Ireland’s top garden designers. The show garden space at Bloom brings together some of Ireland’s most experienced, creative and hard-working garden designers and horticulturists.  The show gardens are remarkable, not only in their beauty and variety, but also in their ability to communicate important themes and bring attention to issues such as sustainability, biodiversity, conservation, health and wellness.

All applications for general show garden design must be made online. Please refer to the application form guide below and make sure to read the rules and regulations document before submitting your application. Best of luck!

The Show Gardens will showcase the best of Irish garden design and landscaping talent at Bord Bia Bloom 2025. If you are a passionate and experienced garden/landscape designer and aspire to create a show garden at Bloom, then we would love to hear from you. Please contact our Show Garden and Horticulture Content Manager, Kerrie Gardener – kerrie.gardener@bordbiabloom.com / +353 86 1304170