castleknocktidytowns

Sep 256 min read

CTT 2024 Wild Garden Competition WINNERS

Updated: Oct 16

Castleknock TidyTowns’s 2024 Wild Garden competition was launched at the Castleknock Festival in June and ran for 6 weeks. By the extended closing date in August, lots of entries had been received. Following the discovery of such amazing gardens during last year’s Glorious Garden competition, we were excited to see what the entries would reveal this year. After a trawl through the submissions, three gardens were shortlisted and the judges made arrangements to visit each one in turn.

We were looking for a garden which would be wildly wonderful for people to enjoy as well as supporting pollinators and wildlife. The judges were also looking for evidence of sustainability principles such as water harvesting, composting, seed sharing etc.

The judges were very impressed by all three gardens. While they were very different, each garden excelled in varying ways. However, the judges felt one garden stood out and had the edge.

And so, we are delighted to announce that we have found our wonderfully Wild Garden, our winner for 2024.

WINNER of WILD GARDEN 2024

Louise and Patrick Kiernan - Fairhaven

Judges’ comments: “We were charmed by this garden, its versatility, the range and colour of the trees (which are providing great soil cover) and its controlled wildness. We were also delighted to see the water butt supporting water conservation and use of natural fertiliser and coffee grains. Well done on achieving such an impressive oasis of a garden in such a short period of time.”

Given that this garden measures only 40 sq m. it is incredible what has been achieved here - privacy, a sense of lush wildness and of allowing nature to flourish. Patrick and Louise have certainly achieved a winning space although Louise gives all the credit for the green fingers to Patrick. By ensuring the soil structure was supported from the start through the addition of natural fertiliser (well composted horse–manure) the foundation for good gardening was put in place. Their wild garden, with ample privacy, is a haven for their family. It is awash with colour and textures from the trees, shrubs and plants. Patrick planted the garden so that there is colour year round. He has allowed the trees, plants and shrubs to disguise the wooden garden shed and yet still enhance the feeling of the garden being much bigger than its plot size.

The garden includes a cool swinging egg chair where the family can go to relax and rebalance, listen to the sounds of birds, bees and nature. It is an ideal space for 4 year old Maud to enjoy and learn from too. It is a delight to visit and a worthy winner of our competition.

Awarded: €100 voucher for Wong's Chinese Restaurant and a winners' certificate.

Presentation photo: Evelyn Pender, Chairperson CTT with winners Louise, Patrick and Maud Kiernan, Miriam Rogers and Patricia Sheehan, committee members CTT.

Highly Commended

Pauline Murphy - Beechpark Avenue

Judges’ comments: “We were delighted to visit your beautiful garden with its mix of trees, hedges and flowers. It was very ordered, manicured and obviously a huge amount of work has gone in to keeping it in such great order. Good to see the water butt and leaf composting in place too.”

This garden is Pauline’s special place where she spends her quiet time looking after it. Although it is a small area, it is filled with many trees, underplanted with complimentary shrubs and flowering plants. Plus there are almost fifty pots in bloom. It's a magical space!

The back door leading to the patio is flanked by two olive trees and a laurel tree. Across from those trees, potted acer trees and a number of much flowering hydrangeas stand in pots. Beyond the patio (used for meals outside and entertaining) is a grassed area surrounded by raised borders. This is a practical space where the dog enjoys his toys, especially his ball. There is also a paved area to the side that houses thirty planted pots which also give a wonderful display.

The raised border (edged with an attractive dry stone wall, topped with granite slabs) contains many plants specifically chosen to encourage pollinators and wild life into the garden. These include rudbeckia, nepeta, clematis, calendulas, crocosmia and many more. The garden was abuzz during the judge’s visit.

To facilitate interest and colour, Pauline has plants coming into bloom at various times of the year, e.g. her peony collection is magnificent in late spring. Pauline’s garden is a space that fills her (and her family) with much happiness and is definitely worth the effort she puts in to it.

Presentation photo: Evelyn Pender, Chairperson CTT with Pauline Murphy and Patricia Sheehan and Miriam Rogers, committee members CTT.

Highly Commended

Gerry O’Driscoll - Fairhaven

Judges’ comments: “We were so impressed with your beautiful garden and its colourful array of flowers. What you have achieved in only one year is simply fantastic.”

Having only moved in to Fairhaven during August 2023 the O’Driscolls found themselves left with an overgrown garden that had very poor drainage resulting in water lying on the grass after it rained. They wanted the garden to function as an outdoor living space for the family and also to create a flower garden that would be full of bees / butterflies etc. and be beautiful to look at. After the hard landscaping, (with paved area and two raised beds) was completed, they bought a selection of herbaceous perennials and choose good pollinator plants like Verbena bonariensis, Sanguisorba, Foxgloves etc. and grew some annuals from seed themselves. They only planted up the raised beds in April 2024. They have achieved a lot in a very short time. They now have a beautiful garden where they can enjoy sitting outside and enjoy the flowers. Their choice of plants has been key to encouraging bees and butterflies, in particular, to enjoy the space too.

Presentation photo: Evelyn Pender, Chairperson CTT with Gerry and Audrey O'Driscoll, and Patricia Sheehan, committee member CTT.

CTT added a Best Estate category to this year’s competition. Following a walk through by the judges, a winner was chosen:

Best Estate 2024

Fairhaven

Fairhaven impresses from the moment you enter the estate. There is a very bright, neat and green entrance to the estate. The abundance of trees and hedgerows appear to be well tended.

Fairhaven is a relatively new estate. There is a lovely red brick entrance and open area with well-tended grass and a feature cedar tree. The estate generally has plenty of trees which are maturing well. Most houses also have hedgerows and flowers in the front which are conducive to abundant birds and bees, so close to the Phoenix Park. All open areas are well maintained and there is a small playground for children on the main green area. Overall, Fairhaven is very attractive and well maintained, with plenty of trees and hedges supporting an urban green corridor for insect habitats. As the years progress these trees will support even more biodiversity. For one of the newer estates in Castleknock, Fairhaven is a real credit to its residents.

Prize - €100 Woodies voucher awarded by Castleknock TidyTowns

Presentation photo: Evelyn Pender, Chairperson CTT with Gareth Flinter, Chairperson, Annette Leavey, Niall Jones of Fairhaven Residents' Association and Miriam Rogers and Patricia Sheehan of CTT.

Additionally, the CTT judges also made one Merit award this year as follows:

Special Merit

The O’Halloran Family - Castleknock Park

This Merit award was made for a front margin which the O’Halloran family has transformed into a wildflower, pollinator hotspot. This grass verge outside their home has become a wonderful area for bees to gather nectar. It is truly wild. No interference with habitat with all native Irish plants. These include Teasel, Knapweed, Great Mullein, Nettle, Native Primrose, Ribwort Plaintain, Field Scabious, Tufted Vetch, Dandelions as well as a variety of allium bulbs and mini Hawthorn trees.

Over the years Martin has helped plant thousands of daffodils, snowdrops, muscari and allium bulbs in the front margins within the Castleknock Park estate to help create a pollinator corridor for the students of St Brigid’s NS and residents to enjoy. The front margin outside the O’Halloran home is the start of this pollinator trail for the many students of St Brigid’s NS walking through the Castleknock Park estate on their way to school. It just goes to show what can be achieved when nature is permitted to thrive.