Press Release

Room with a Difference brings home bronze

Wednesday 11th June

Derry City Council in association with the Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland and ‘Sow & Grow’ Horticultural Unit were delighted to be awarded third prize for their entry in the annual Garden Show Ireland competition, that was held as part of a Northern Irish Garden Festival at Hillsborough during the weekend.

The city’s entry for the competition was entitled ‘Make Room for Wildlife’ and aims to highlight the need for gardens of all shapes and sizes to support their local wildlife. With that in mind, the garden is quite literally a virtual bedroom, complete with ensuite, designed to create mass appeal for wild plant and animal life, thereby encouraging their presence.

Mayor Cllr Gerard Diver said this was a wonderful achievement for the city and an extremely inventive way to draw the community’s attention to the need for preserving our local natural habitat. He continued,

“We are thrilled to have been awarded third place in this competition, especially as this was the first time the city participated. The organisations involved have worked very hard to create such a unique and original entry. Children from local schools who created additional artwork for the exhibition are also to be commended for their contribution and I am looking forward to seeing this wonderful exhibition over the summer period when it returns to the city. This was a fantastic educational and imaginative project and Im delighted that it received the recognition it deserved.”

The unique and fun features of the exhibit include a bed made from old logs, entitled ‘Let Sleeping Logs Lie’; a bedside cabinet which has been converted into a bee hive; a chest of drawers that is a five storey insect hotel; a standard lamp is made from an arrangement of bird feeders; a hand sink doubles up quite easily as a bird bath with the toilet being a dry compost heap; and to finish it off the medicine cabinet is full of herbal remedies.

Working with Northern Ireland Libraries and the Creative Youth Partnership the council involved local primary schoolchildren to add their creative touches to the garden. A selection of primary schools throughout the city have been working with an artist in their local library to create a range of artwork that will added the finishing touches to the unusual décor.

All of the artwork has been made from biodegradable materials, meaning that it too will eventually rot away in the compost and become part of the garden, however it will remain in tact for some time affording everyone the opportunity to marvel at this unique room with a difference.

Speaking about their involvement in the project Annie Mullan Biodiversity Officer at Derry City Council says

“A number of local conservation organisations have worked with Derry City Council to create this inspirational and fun garden. There are so many simple ways to assist local wildlife and although this garden takes the literal meaning of room for wildlife there is still a simple message that even the smallest actions can make the biggest difference and create miniature reserves for local plant and animal life. We are looking forward to displaying the garden in the city during the summer so that everyone can enjoy the spectacle. Please watch local press for details.”

This event is supported by Environment and Heritage Service through their Natural Heritage grants programme.

Ends

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