Bloom 26 | Show Garden Online Application + Design Brief

Bord Bia Bloom 2026

Show Garden Application Form (Part 1)
and Design Brief (Part 2)

Extended Deadline - 10th December 2025
Part 1 - Show Garden Application Form
1. Designer's/Garden Coordinator's Details

All communications will be conducted via the Garden Coordinator whose responsibility it will be to keep the relevant parties informed
Designer/Garden Coordinator*

First NameLast Name
Company
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

Town/CityCounty/Country

Eircode/Postcode
Phone Number*
Website - designer
Email Address - designer*
Instagram - designer
Facebook - designer
TikTok - designer
X - designer
2. DESIGNER'S GARDEN SHOW HISTORY
Bloom, RHS Show(s) or other shows at which the designer has designed a show garden, medals achieved and in which years;
NB. Please do not be discouraged from applying if you have no exhibition experience
3. PROPOSED TITLE AND THEME OF GARDEN
Title/ Working Title*
Theme

4. CONTRACTOR'S DETAILS

If known
Contact Name

First NameLast Name
Company Name
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

Town/CityCounty/Country

Eircode/Postcode
Phone Number
Email Address
Website
Social Media - Contractor
Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook
4A. CONTRACTOR'S SHOW HISTORY

NB. Please do not be discouraged from applying if your contractor has no exhibition experience. The designer and contractor may be the same person.
Shows at which the contractor has constructed a show garden, medals achieved and in which years;

5. SPONSOR'S DETAILS

Please do not be discouraged from applying if you do have a sponsor secured.
Sponsor's name
Name

First NameLast Name
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

Town/CityCounty/Country

Eircode/Postcode
Phone Number
Website
Email Address
Social Media - Sponsor
Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook
Is sponsorship confirmed?*
If "Yes", is a sponsorship agreement in place and signed by both parties?

6. GARDEN SIZE PREFERENCE

Please indicate your preferred requirements below. Although every effort will be made to accommodate these no guarantee can be given at this stage
Balcony Garden

2m depth x 5m length

Small Garden
- 5m depth x 5m length
- 5m depth x 7m length
2 viewing sides required (see section 1 of the garden rules & regulation). Lawn edging on viewing sides is not required in the small garden category.

Medium Garden
- 8m depth x 10m length
- 9m depth x 11m length - limited number
- 9m depth x 12m length - limited number
- 10m depth x 10m length - limited number
2 viewing sides required (see section 1 of the garden rules & regulations). 0.5m lawn edging on both viewing sides must be included within the chosen garden area (e.g 8m x 10m garden plot = 7.5m x 9.5m garden + 0.5m edging on 2 sides)

Large Garden
- 10m depth x 16m length or
- 10m depth x 18m length or
- 10m depth x 20m length
2 viewing sides required (section 1 of the garden rules & regulations) 0.5m lawn edging on both viewing sides must be included within the chosen garden area (e.g. 10m x 16m exhibit plot = 9.5m x 15.5m garden + 0.5m edging on 2 sides)

Concept Garden (in the first instance all shapes and sizes will be considered)
- However, concept gardens located in the Show Garden area may be required to fit within show garden plots/footprints
N.B - Proposed size of exhibit must be specified at the time of application

Gardens must have a minimum of two viewing sides. The GAG will give consideration to gardens that are open on 3 or more sides.
Based on the above, please select your preference;*
Proposed size: (in metres)*

7. EXCAVATIONS

This information is required in order to facilitate Phoenix Park Archaeological requirements.
Do you intend to excavate (for pools, foundations, etc.)?*

YesNo
If "Yes", to what depth?*
in metres
Where removal of excavated soil is required, the volume of soil must be communicated in advance to the Show Garden Manager.
Please indicate the volume of earth you intend removing from the site (to on-site soil store) during the build?
Indicate in metres cubed
Please indicate the volume of earth that may be required (from the on-site soil store) during the build?
Indicate in metres cubed
* Please note that in previous years it has been possible to store soil on-site and designers requiring soil can draw from this stock pile during the build

8. BOUNDARY TREATMENT

Please refer to Rules and Regulations section 2. Boundary Treatment for more details.
Please indicate the height of boundaries*
Height in metres
Please specify the type and finish of proposed boundaries.
9. ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GARDENING
Please indicate below any plants/materials which will be reused, recycled, returned to owner etc after the show and whether the re-installation of the garden or its main components has been considered*

10. COST ESTIMATE (PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL)

This information is required to ensure that the designer has sufficient resources to cover the cost of the garden. Please include all costs whether incurred, sponsored or negated by product placement. This information will remain confidential between the applicant and the Bord Bia Bloom organisers.
UPLOAD COST ESTIMATE (Spreadsheet/Pricing Document)

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If you have not uploaded a cost estimate above please complete the below table

	Area/ Length/ Unit/No. /Weight	Total Cost	% Sponsored/ Product Placement and value secured to date	€ Sponsored/ Product Placement and value secured to date
Water (Bloom supplies a shared water point)
Electricity
Gas connection (Please see rules + regs)
Services to pagoda
Ropes & Posts - see sect. 18 rules + regs
Fees (e.g Consultants)
Accomodation
Printed info (leaflets etc)
Hospitality, tickets etc
Site clearance cost - Labour
Site clearance cost - Plant Hire
Skip Hire / Grab Truck
Removal of material for site/transport costs
Others
Contingency
Less sponsorship
Groundwork (Site Clearance)
Boundary walls, screens etc.
Hard Landscape - edging etc
Hard Landscape-hard standing, paths etc.
Features including statuary/art
Water features
Buildings/Structures
Labour
Plant & Machinery Hire
Trees
All other plants
Turf
Artifical grass
Labour
Transport costs
TOTAL

11. DRAWINGS REQUIRED

All drawings uploaded must be PDF and JPEG format.
Please Provide the Following
- Min. One Garden Plan
  (Clearly annotated, drawn to scale, scanned & attached to application)
- Min. One Elevation
  (clearly annotated, drawn to scale, scanned and attached to your application)
- Min. One Axonometric or Perspective/ 3D Sketch min
- Preliminary Plant List/Outline Planting Plan
  (see section 5 of the Design Brief)
  
  Please include your name and garden title as part of the file name for each upload for example Bloom 23_Kerrie Gardiner_Garden Plan
Upload drawing files - should you require more than one upload link:*

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Part 2 - Show Garden Design Brief
Design Brief Information

To enable your garden to be constructed, and subsequently to be assessed and judged, you are required to produce a written brief. This will be used by the Garden Advisory Group (GAG) during the development of their responses to your exhibit and will also be used as the basis of the judging process.

The brief should describe and embody:
- The design intention including concepts
- The purpose and function of the garden*
- The assumptions made about the site and its situation
- The reasons for the inclusion of the garden’s important elements including information on plants and materials and their design use
Note: For Concept Gardens it is the theme or concept that must be communicated, as function may play a secondary role here. Moreover, Concept Gardens do not need to be functional.

The brief should not:
- Include an in depth description of the garden – assessors and judges will familiarise themselves with each garden based upon your main points
- Indicate the complete plant list – assessors and judges are mainly interested in planting themes and structural planting
- Describe construction and finishes in fine detail – assessors and judges aim to understand the thinking or concepts behind your garden
- Be lengthy, verbose or overly ‘poetic’ – keep your information to the point!
Assessors and judges welcome the provision of challenging briefs and consideration may be given to those who aim high in their intentions. However, failure to fulfil the brief can result in lost marks. It is useful to take an objective view of the information you provide and to update your brief before the assessing teams receive this information.

Design Brief Information

It is important to complete the below sections to allow the Garden Advisory Group (GAG) to review the application.
REQUIRED: Please complete 1A (Show Garden) or 1B (Concept Show Garden)
1 (A) Describe the purpose, theme or concept of your garden, including any intended use. (You may include the practical or functional aspects of the garden here and information on the sustainability or environmental impact of the garden and its materials may also be discussed. (Guide: 100 words)

0/120
1 (B) Describe the theme or concept of your concept garden. Explain your ideas and intentions paying specific attention to the way in which you feel visitors to the show can engage with the space.

0/120
2. Identify and describe the structures within the garden and the purpose they serve. Discuss how the boundaries of the garden relate to your design and/or to any assumed context. (Guide: 100 words) Please note that every designer/exhibitor is responsible for the construction of their own boundary treatment..*

0/120
3. Describe or identify the soil characteristics, aspect, topography and any other prevailing conditions which would impact upon the design and specifically the planting within the garden. (Guide: 100 words) Please note that it is unlikely that these site conditions can be provided at the show!*

0/120
4. Describe and explain the palette of hard materials and/or finishes used in the garden and the relevance of these materials or any other special features e.g. sculpture, water, etc. (Guide: 100 words)*

0/120
5. Describe your choice of plants and specific or important associations, explaining how or why they relate to the themes and concepts of your garden. Identify key specimen or structural plants. (Guide: 100 words) Marks will be awarded for the successful use of locally-sourced (Irish-grown) plants *

0/120
6. Additional Information if not enough space above.

0/250

APPLICATION CHECKLIST
In submitting this application and design brief, I/we confirm that if this application is successful, I/we will comply with the obligations set out in the Garden Rules and Regulations and Garden Events Ltd Event Participation Rules and Regulations
PLEASE TICK ALL RELEVANT BOXES BELOW*
If you have any questions or would like more information on Bord Bia Bloom please contact:

Kerrie Gardiner
Show Gardens and Horticulture Content Manager | Bord Bia Bloom

+353 (0)86 130 4170
kerrie.gardiner@bordbiabloom.com
www.BordBiaBloom.com
Should be Empty:

1. Designer's/Garden Coordinator's Details

2. DESIGNER'S GARDEN SHOW HISTORY

3. PROPOSED TITLE AND THEME OF GARDEN

4. CONTRACTOR'S DETAILS

4A. CONTRACTOR'S SHOW HISTORY

5. SPONSOR'S DETAILS

6. GARDEN SIZE PREFERENCE

7. EXCAVATIONS

8. BOUNDARY TREATMENT

9. ENVIRONMENTALLY AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GARDENING

10. COST ESTIMATE (PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL)

11. DRAWINGS REQUIRED

Design Brief Information

APPLICATION CHECKLIST