Chelsea gardens to boost industry

GARDEN Centres are hoping the increased focus on Irish plants and design at Chelsea Flower Show in London this week will help them grow their business.

The Irish amenity gardening market, which is worth €450 million, is expected to experience a sales boost after an increased focus on Irish participants at the prestigious show.

Over one third of all gardening purchases in Ireland last year were in garden centres, which are becoming an increasingly important part of the market.

The purchases included a €59m spend on outdoor plants and flowers, €6m on indoor potted plants and €4m on fresh cut flowers.

Now it’s hoped Irish gardens at Chelsea Show will help boost the industry.

A Bord Bia-sponsored exhibit is one of 19 entries in the show gardens category at Chelsea, which is expected to draw 150,000 visitors.

The garden is one of the top three ‘must-see’ gardens at Chelsea 2005, according to Charlie Dimmock, of the BBC’s gardening show, Groundforce.

Another Irish garden was created by Diarmuid Gavin with the help of listeners to the Marian Finucane programme on RTÉ Radio1.