The Hairy Gardeners, SunSmart garden
Episode: 1 Bloom Garden show special, Ireland
Title: The Hairy Gardeners, SunSmart garden
Broadcast: Aug 18th
Presenter: Trevor Cochrane
Trevor and the Hairy Gardeners take a walk through a garden that shares the story of skin cancer sufferers and raise awareness of one of the fastest growing cancer in Ireland.
- Created on behalf of the Marie Keating Foundation, the Hairy Gardeners Peter Cowell and Monty Richardson’s aim is raise awareness in the increasing risk of skin cancer, and the importance of being sun-smart.
- The Marie Keating Foundation is an Irish foundation, focused on raising awareness of cancer. It was founded by Irish singer, Ronan Keating, in 2001, after the passing of his mother, Marie Keating who suffered a long battle with cancer. It is one of the biggest charities in Ireland.
- The Hairy Gardeners, a moniker they acquired thanks to their hairy beards, are new to the Bloom festival, and this is their first year with a display garden. Peter himself has taken part in various shows and competitions, most recently winning Gold, Designer’s Favourite and Judges’ Favourite Garden at the 2017 BBC Gardeners’ World Live.
- The SunSmart Garden is adorned with vibrant splashes of bright orange and yellows, raising awareness to the fact that skin cancer is one of the fastest growing cancers in Ireland.
- Large, leafy trees and canopies engulf the garden display, producing plenty of shade for those sunny days (yes, even Ireland has to escape the sun sometimes!). Trees are best natural filter of sunlight.
- Dotted throughout the garden are umbrellas, hats and sunscreen, encouraging its visitors to be sun-smart whilst enjoying the scenery and surrounds.
- The garden’s meandering path and planting reflects the cancer journey, which includes a tranquillity corner where cancer patients can take time out during their treatment.
- A large “balloon sun” floats high above a large oak tree which represents the end of the cancer journey and offers shade from the sun and an opportunity for visitors to ‘Tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree’ to show their support for those affected by skin cancer.
