Spring arrives at Southside’s family garden

ONE of the Southside’s best amenities is throwing open its doors after the long, cold winter.

With spring in the air, the Airfield Estate in Dundrum has launched a series of events this month to mark the changing of the seasons.

This fully working farm in the heart of South Dublin offers a perfect example of a fun for all family day out, with beautiful ornamental gardens, delightful food gardens, winding woodland walkways, children’s play areas, and an insightful, interactive heritage experience in the old family home.

Airfield Estate is hosting a series of events, workshops and classes for visitors of all ages with young chefs and gardeners classes, a ‘Love Your Gut’ fermented foods workshop with Valerie O’Connor, and ‘Living Willow’ workshop with Ronan Russell.

The 38-acre estate includes a working farm and dairy, food gardens and food production tunnels that supply the destination restaurant, Overends, ornamental gardens, a state-of-the art interactive heritage centre, a display garage for the Rolls Royce and vintage cars, and educational facilities. 

A charitable organisation established by Letitia and Naomi Overend, daughters of Trevor and Lily in 1974 as a place of recreation and education, Airfield is a place where visitors can reflect, be replenished and celebrate the connection between people and nature through the farm, gardens and natural environment.

It has a captivating annual schedule of fun-filled family events celebrating food, farming and the natural world through performances, tours, storytelling and workshops. It also hosts a range of schools and educational programmes specially designed for everyone from pre-schoolers through to senior students.

Activities are self-funded so all entrance fees help Airfield to live on as a resource for visitors’ enjoyment today, and for future generations.

It’s the perfect place to spend a couple of hours or even a day exploring where you can join in the egg collecting at 10am, followed by milking in the farmyard at 10.30am. Meet with an Airfield guide for a fascinating glimpse into the lives of original owners Letitia and Naomi Overend with tours from Wednesday to Sundays at 11.30am and 2.30pm taking in the house, garage, gardens and farm. Then head back over to the farm at 3.30pm and join the farmers as they feed your favourite animals – Jersey cows, sheep, pigs, goats, donkeys, and many more.

As well as the daily happenings on the estate Airfield has an abundance of exciting events taking place this spring season with something for all ages and interests.

Airfield has ‘Young Gardeners Classes’ that are ideal for eager little green fingers who want to dig in and get growing. Airfield’s young gardeners will learn the skills required to sow, grow and harvest crops, and no doubt they’ll be getting good and messy with each session varying from bulb planting, seed sowing, caring for your crops and plants.

The Living Willow Workshop with Ronan Russell will help create some interesting landscaping and texture in your garden. Working in small groups, participants will learn the hands on skills required to complete an archway. Gain practical knowledge on the life and growing pattern of willow along with methods and techniques for planting and weaving to encourage you to start your own at home.

In March an ‘Introduction to Mindfulness’ with Fidelma Farley offers a ‘taster’ for those new to the practise and a pleasant refresher for anyone who’s done some mindfulness before.

A relaxing and calming morning is promised with guided relaxation and breath meditations as well as some mindfulness in everyday life exercises and discussion, and some guided mindful eating. Rejuvenating herbal teas and tempting healthy snacks will be served.

A Back Garden Basics Gardening Course beginning on March 7 for 10 weeks will help unleash the potential of your back garden and learn how to make the most of it by growing your own veg, flowers, fruits and chickens.

Tickets to events, workshops and classes includes general admission charges to Airfield Estate.

Airfield Estate general admission charges are €10 for adults, €5 for children, with children under three entering for free. Family rates are available. Airfield Estate annual membership and gift cards are also available. 

For further information or to book tickets log onto www.airfield.ie