09 August 2010

Alan McIlveen, Horticultural Manager, Greenmount Campus, College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise

A summer picnic with the family, a stroll through glorious gardens, feeding the ducks- what could be nicer? The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise will open the doors of Greenmount Campus to provide members of the public with the opportunity to enjoy the Richardsons Walled Garden and the DARD Rose Garden.  

The gardens will be open on:-

• Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 August

College staff will be on hand during the weekend to help with your gardening questions and to give advice on the full range of horticulture educational courses offered at the campus. The DARD Rose Garden containing over 50 award winning varieties and some 1300 bushes should be at its best during this period.

The weekend will feature local artists from Antrim Art Club who will be capturing the garden on canvas plus putting on a display of their work. The Greenmount Association Floristry club will be demonstrating creative floral designs to enhance your summer garden parties and BBQs.  The Northern Ireland Koi Carp Society will be hosting their annual show in the walled garden during the weekend providing a great opportunity to get up close to these splendid fish and members of the society will be on hand to answer pond and fish related questions. Finally the NI Bonsai Society will be staging a display of stunning miniature trees and members will be present to advise the public.

All in all a great opportunity to visit one of Northern Ireland’s premier walled gardens.  Admission to the gardens will be £2.50 for adults, with admission for children being free. Visitors are welcome to explore and enjoy the extensive campus grounds and nature trail. The opening times will be 10:30 - 5pm on Saturday and 1:00pm - 6 pm on Sunday

For further information phone 02894426601