Skip to content
Support Us

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Camp for sick children will put Bloomin' lovely garden to fun use

The designer garden will be transplanted to Barretstown after the Bloom festival ends this weekend.

bloom3 Barretstown at Bloom Barretstown at Bloom

WELL, THIS IS lovely.

One of the gardens showing at the Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park this weekend is to be transplanted wholly to Barretstown camp for children.

The garden – called Sowing the Seeds of Magic, and a silver gilt medal winner – has been created by designer Tim Austen with children in mind. He said that he had “always wanted to create a magical garden for children”. He said:

The garden for me is all about children… how they’re going to engage with it, that there’s going to be lots of really fun features here but also that they’re going to feel safe. It’s kind of their own little haven that they can escape into and have fun in.

Barretstown is a camp in Co Kildare which gives seriously ill children a break from the endless rounds of hospitals and treatment. It is a not-for-profit and relies on fundraising and sponsorship like that of long-time supporter Glanbia, which has funded the creation of this garden.

“Sometimes treatment for cancer can last over three years,” said Barretstown CEO, Dee Ahearn, “So when these children come to Barretstown, they forget about their illness for a while. In fact we like to say they leave it at the gate.”

bloom5 Barretstown at Bloom Barretstown at Bloom

Barretstown at Bloom Barretstown at Bloom

Streamabout / YouTube

Bloom features a number of gardens inspired by the work of charities, including the You Talk I’ll Listen garden by Andrew Christopher Dunne for the Samaritans; Messenger by Paul Doyle for the Jack and Jill Foundation (both golf medal winners); Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin Garden, designed by Anthony Ryan and Kieran Dunne, sponsored by Kildare Growers (silver medal).

Paul Newman leaves €7 million to Barretstown>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kev Barnes
    Favourite Kev Barnes
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:53 AM

    Hot DRY week with rain……some weather forecast that

    162
    ed w
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:26 AM

    Riding sat and sun morning in the north west

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karl Dilkington
    Favourite Karl Dilkington
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:30 AM

    @ed w: fair play to ya

    238
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tweed Cap
    Favourite Tweed Cap
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:32 AM

    @ed w:
    Hope it stays nice and moist for ya. Them dry rides are no fun.

    273
    See 7 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ⚡ Seánie ⚡
    Favourite ⚡ Seánie ⚡
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:36 AM

    @ed w: there’s a man living for the weekend.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ronny
    Favourite Ronny
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:37 AM

    @ed w: too much information kid

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute mcgoo
    Favourite mcgoo
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 7:39 AM

    @ed w: I’ll do the evenings for ya if needed

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Me_a_monkey
    Favourite Me_a_monkey
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 8:24 AM

    @ed w: make sure u bag it up!

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Conway
    Favourite Sean Conway
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 9:47 AM

    @Tweed Cap: Put some icecubes in your condom to keep the swelling down.

    11
    ed w
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ed w
    Favourite ed w
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 9:57 AM

    @Karl Dilkington: hope you got a good laugh meant raining of course

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Billy McNamara
    Favourite Billy McNamara
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 11:47 AM

    @ed w: I did.But I wonder !!!!.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kem Trayle
    Favourite Kem Trayle
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 10:55 AM

    It better rain soon or we’ll have to change our name to The Beige Isle.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean Beinead
    Favourite Sean Beinead
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 11:32 AM

    I wouldnt mind a mix of a few showers with the sunny weather ,me poor roses are suffering and me grass seed aint digging in deep quite yet , im sick of watering the garden every evening aswell.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
    Favourite Gisbert Bayertz
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 2:32 PM

    @Sean Beinead: I don’t have anymore grass…..just a brownish something covering part of my back garden

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
    Favourite Gisbert Bayertz
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 2:31 PM

    Journal: have you checked Met Eireann? Just asking…..

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Theodora Lament
    Favourite Theodora Lament
    Report
    Jul 9th 2018, 2:46 PM

    Chucking it down in the Wessht

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds