‘Bug’s life’ to give young gardeners a taste for the wild

Bugs and other “creepy crawlies” in our gardens are not all to be stamped on and lots of creepy creatures do magnificent work in their native habitat, according to a wildlife expert involved in an upcoming garden festival.

Ithel McKenna’s comments come ahead of a host of children’s events run at the Blackwater Garden Centre near Youghal as part of the Waterford Garden Festival, a fortnight-long event beginning this week. The festival will see big names in the gardening world such as Roy Lancaster, Dick Warner, Patrick O’Hara and Robin Waistell come to the region for a series of workshops and lectures.

“We want families as well as avid gardeners to come and enjoy everything this region has to offer,” Ms McKenna said.

“Through events such as Building a Bug Hotel we will be providing a good, beneficial environment where bugs will want to stay. Bugs like ladybirds are great in the garden. We will use pallets, hollowed-out branches, to create rustic bug hotels and other materials to create more artistic ones. Every child will go home with their own hotel. We also urge those coming for our dig to bring along their own spoon. It will be great fun and it’s all free.”

The first-ever Waterford Garden Festival line-up from tomorrow to Sunday week offers everyone from the green-fingered to the novice gardener a unique opportunity to visit some of the finest gardens in the country, meet with their owners and those who tend lovingly to the extensive grounds.

Children’s events include the Building A Bug Hotel workshops at the Blackwater Garden Centre near Youghal in Cork this Wednesday and again on next Thursday, May 10.

An open day at Ballyin Gardens just upstream from Lismore Castle on Sunday, May 6 will include a garden walk with the Irish Examiner’s gardening correspondent, Charlie Wilkins, as well as stalls, music and face-painting. Children can uncover hidden treasures with a local conservation officer as part of a mock archaeological dig at the Blackwater Garden Centre on May 9.

The highlight for many will be a special nature walk with broadcaster and author Eanna Ni Lamhna of An Taisce on the riverbank and garden paths of Dromana House near Lismore on Saturday, May 12.

* www.waterfrordgardentrail.com