Fingal County Council announced that it has been awarded Gold at this year’s Bord Bia Bloom for its outstanding show garden, “Fingal Nurturing Communities through Nature.”
In addition to the gold medal, the garden also received the highly regarded Most Sustainable Garden Award, marking another significant success for the Council at Ireland’s premier gardening and horticultural festival.
This latest accolade builds on Fingal’s outstanding success at Bloom 2024, when its show garden “Coming Home to Nature” received exceptional national recognition, winning a Gold Medal, Best in Show Large Garden, Best Construction Team, and Most Sustainable Garden.
The 2026 award?winning garden continues Fingal’s tradition of innovative and impactful design, this year placing a strong emphasis on community gardening and the role of shared green spaces in fostering connection, wellbeing, and sustainability.
Designed by Áit Urbanism + Landscape Ltd, an award?winning Dublin?based landscape architecture and urban design practice, “Fingal Nurturing Communities through Nature” presents a welcoming and inclusive environment where residents can come together to grow food, share knowledge, and build stronger communities.
At the heart of the garden is a central canopy structure and propagation house, which serves as a focal point for gathering and collaboration. The design encourages the growing of seasonal produce while supporting the development of gardening skills and plant knowledge. Accessibility is a key feature, with raised planting beds at varying heights ensuring that people of all ages and abilities can actively participate.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, said: “We are incredibly proud to have received two awards at Bord Bia Bloom 2026. The ‘Nurturing Communities through Nature’ garden highlights the importance of creating spaces where people can come together, share experiences, and build stronger communities, while also connecting with the natural environment. It reflects our commitment to supporting sustainable and vibrant communities across Fingal.”
Kevin Halpenny, Senior Parks & Landscape Officer at Fingal said: “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and expertise of our Parks Division and the team at Bremore Castle, who have worked tirelessly over the past number of months to prepare and bring this wonderful garden to life. The project demonstrates how thoughtfully designed spaces can support community wellbeing, and we are particularly proud that the garden will continue to have a lasting impact beyond Bord Bia Bloom.”
By prioritising community gardening initiatives, Fingal aims to enhance social cohesion, promote sustainable living, and improve quality of life for residents.
Following the conclusion of Bord Bia Bloom 2026, the award?winning garden will be relocated to the historic Brackenstown Walled Garden in Swords. There, it will form the basis of a new community gardening initiative, where a local gardening group will be established to maintain and develop the space as a valuable community resource.
This latest recognition at Bloom highlights Fingal County Council’s leadership in delivering creative, sustainable, and community?focused public spaces. Building on its previous successes, Fingal continues to demonstrate how gardens can inspire, connect, and enrich communities while supporting a greener, more sustainable future.
Further information is available at:
https://www.fingal.ie/bord-bia-bloom-2026-fingal-nurturing-communities-through-nature