Now in its 17th year, Bord Bia Bloom has become one of Ireland’s largest showcases celebrating the best of Irish horticulture, food, and drink.
Spanning over 70 acres in the Phoenix Park, Bloom in 2022 showcased 19 show gardens, nine postcard gardens and 17 nursery displays, over 80 food and drink producers and 130 retailers. Last year’s event welcomed over 110,000 visitors, including 15,000 children. The growing visitor numbers reflect the public’s passion for horticulture and food, and Bloom is now viewed as one of the unmissable events in the nation’s summer calendar.
The show gardens are the centrepiece and key focal point of Bloom. They 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, water conservation and mental health.
RESPONDING TO THE GREAT CHALLENGE OF OUR TIME
Since its foundation in 1919, Citroën has always harnessed innovation to deliver comfort and a sense of well-being in its cars. Today, this innovative spirit needs to be harnessed to respond to the great challenge of our time.
While most car manufacturers are still talking about size, features, speed, equipment, Citroën believe we should talk about recycled materials, family happiness, innovation, lightweight and caring for people and planet equally. Sometimes enough is just enough. The right car for your needs, the right balance between size, weight and range.
November 2022 saw the launch of Citroën’s radical ‘Oli’ concept crossover vehicle, a laboratory on wheels which set out how the brand will break the mould of heavy, expensive electric cars. It employs the ethos of the tiny ‘Ami’ urban mobility solution which features in this show garden, and previews design and engineering themes that will filter down to mainstream Citroën models in the future.
In particular, the theme of recycled materials and sustainability will be reflected in forthcoming models over time. In fact, the newly launched Citroën ‘eC4 X’ is positioned as the right car for your needs, the right balance between size, weight, and range. It contains 100Kg of recycled metal and 35Kg of recycled plastic and 30% of the power used to produce it comes from solar panels on the roof of the Citroën factory in Madrid.
To put that in context, 100Kg of recycled metal represents approximately all 4 doors, whilst 35Kg of recycled plastic is the equivalent of both front and rear bumpers.
The greatest threat to our planet is the belief someone else will save it.
Citroën is just one car manufacturer of many who must change to save our planet.
Now is the time for clever thinking to address the resources a car uses over its entire lifetime.
THE ‘POWER OF ONE’
Today, well-being extends beyond passenger and driver comfort. We must be comfortable with the choices we make, calm in the knowledge that even our choice of car is aligned with the task of saving the planet.
The Citroën ‘Power Of One’ show garden aims to neutralise the effects of climate change and features subtle and discreet references to Citroën’s rich design history of innovative thinking. Citroën’s ethos of well-being for both people and planet is encapsulated by demonstrating the ideas of water management and how the ‘Power Of One’ choice of car, or garden design, however small, can make a real difference. We all have a duty.
Air pollution: A biodiverse turf roof provides food and habitat for wildlife and positively contributes to air quality Water misters hidden within the pergola act as a ‘scrubber’ cleaning larger particles of diesel pollutants out of the air. Planting will be zoned by function; planting close to the ‘street’ chosen for its ability to absorb pollution and clean the air.
Noise pollution: Water features within the garden provide a relief from traffic noise. Waterspouts at differing heights create sound at varying frequencies helping to regularise noise from passing traffic. Plants within the garden are chosen for their sound absorbing qualities.
Surface run-off: Capture and storage of rainfall means less run off into storm drains. As much of the garden as possible is planted, helping to slow the escape of run-off water whilst contributing to the oxygen in the atmosphere. Reclaimed materials are used within the ground surfaces, creating a hard-wearing surface, low in embodied carbon. A rain garden and pond at the lowest points store and clean excess water run-off and provide an attractive feature for people and wildlife.
Rainwater collection and storage. The garden demonstrates capture and storage of rainwater from typical downpipes and rain chains to 2 storage ponds. Water is transported to a rain garden along rills of differing heights.
Community spirit: Encouraging down time, neighbourly and community interaction, the garden includes seats from a 1950’s Citroën ‘2CV’ car which were designed to be light weight, removeable and usable for picnics.
THE DESIGNER
Nicola studied architecture at the Bartlett School in London before completing Horticultural training with the RHS. She is a full and enthusiastic member of the Garden Landscape Design Association (GLDA). 2-time gold medal winner Bloom 2016 & Bloom 2018 as well as Best in category Bloom 2016, Nicola is passionate about design as a way to connect people to nature. Nicola has a long and happy connection to Citroën having grown up with a Citroën ‘2CV’. She has happy memories of being driven around London by her parents to see the Christmas lights standing on the back seat with her sister, heads through the roof (it was the 80’s!)
