Gairdín

The garden at Richmond Barracks is a calm green space in the middle of the city.

It is home to a wide variety of plant and flower species, as well as two bee hives.

Since restrictions have eased in 2021, the garden has been full of activity, with new vegetable beds being laid and prepared for the spring months.

Our wonderful Eco-Gardener in Residence, Polly Rowley-Sams, has been working with us to ensure that the garden is a healthy, biodiverse, and restful place to connect with nature.

Activities in the garden

During the pandemic, we started a series of online gardening courses, from which a group of enthusiastic gardeners was formed. Members of this group regularly tend to the new beds, and there will be eco-gardening courses running on an ongoing basis in the garden. We’re looking forward to installing a rainwater harvesting system, and as proud members of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, will be undertaking more initiatives to ensure biodiversity is central to garden activities.

A pergoda and tent were installed in late 2021, so we can bring more of our painting, dance, writing, and family history classes together outdoors in the new year.

If you’d learn more about activities in the garden or find out you can get involved, contact us on info@richmondbarracks.ie

Ways to join in

There are lots of ways to join in and experience the garden at Richmond Barracks. Some of the things we do are:

We run free workshops for people of all ages
We hold community days like picnics and seed-swaps
We run summer camps for children
We are open for community gardening drop-in Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm
We work with local community groups over the long term and invite them to explore how they would like to use the garden or want a community plot
We offer free workshops for local schools
A pergola and festival tent means we can have outdoor workshops and events no matter what the weather.

You can find out what is on in the garden by clicking here.

Or come visit anytime we are open to relax and enjoy the green space. Dogs are welcome too!

Biodiversity in the garden

Polly Rowley-Sams

Polly has been our Eco-Gardener in Residence for two years. This means she looks for ways of gardening that help both nature and humans. Polly makes sure the soil is the best it can be, and that everything we plant brings not just colour and interest, but also involves and supports native species. She shares this knowledge with others through workshops, community gardening sessions and lots of lovely chats with curious visitors.

We are proud members of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and will be undertaking more initiatives to ensure biodiversity is central to garden activities including rainwater harvesting system, bees, planting strategies and more.

When you visit us we can give you our Biodiversity Self-Guided Worksheet for your kids to explore the garden with puzzles, maps and information about the garden and biodiversity. It is available to download here.

If you’d like to learn more about activities in the garden or find out you can get involved, contact us at info@richmondbarracks.ie

What's on in the garden for the next while:

Here are three highlights from what’s coming up in the garden in the next while:

Native Irish Trees - Tuesday 28 May at 11am (duration 90 minutes)

A practical workshop to learn about the importance of native trees and how to identify them. You will also make a cyanotype leaf print to take home with you.

Move and Grow - Tuesday 9 and 16 July and Saturday 20 July at 3pm (duration 45 minutes)

A nature inspired dance workshop for children aged 6 to 12 years and their parent, grandparent or carer.

Green Club: Biodiversity Summer Camp - Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 August at 10am (duration 2 hours)

For ages 6 to 10. Learn about biodiversity and nature, try out some eco gardening and have fun making new friends in the outdoors.

Page last updated: 21 May 2024