Stolen Land: A Garden for Trócaire

Sponsored by Trócaire Designer: Barry Kavanagh

This medium concept garden, which is sponsored by Trócaire and designed by multi-award-winning natural landscape designer and lecturer Barry Kavanagh, highlights how land is stolen from vulnerable people by corporate land grabs and how Irish people can show support for the world’s poorest countries, who are often defenceless against these attacks.

Split into two areas to represent Ireland and Guatemala and divided by water to symbolise the ocean, the garden illustrates the historical similarities between both countries. Just as land rights were a major issue in Ireland in the mid-to-late 19th century, many families in Guatemala today live under the constant threat of violent eviction from large corporations. All elements of the garden are sourced from Irish suppliers and following Bloom some of these will be integrated into an existing garden. Trócaire will re-use featured art for promotional purposes and all other unused items will be recycled.