THE QUEEN described her historic state visit to Ireland as a “brilliant” experience last night.
During a tour of the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show she revealed her thoughts to Irish gardener Diarmuid Gavin, whose Irish Sky Garden” is one of the main attractions at this year’s show.
Gavin said that he had joked with the monarch during their chat, adding: “I said to the Queen, ‘thank you for coming to Ireland and as a reward I brought my garden over’. She said, ‘I had a brilliant time’.”
Irish entries are among the highlights at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, which opens its gates to the public today.
The show celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, the theme of which is sustainability. Thousands are expected to visit the show with its usual lavish gardens, floristry extravaganzas and sale of garden products.
All 157,000 tickets for the event, which runs until Saturday, sold out soon after going on sale late last year.
A number of Irish entries are among the 600 exhibitors at this year’s show, including three trade stalls, a Dubarry clothing retail outlet, and show gardens.
Gavin’s “Irish Sky Garden”sets a precedent as the largest garden ever created at the Royal Horticultural Society’s showcase event in central London.
Inspired by the floating islands of Pandora in the Hollywood movie Avatar, the garden is also the show's first design to incorporate a floating pod that can lift people 25m into the air by crane.
“Everybody that views this garden will see something not traditionally associated with Ireland, but will see a brand new and original idea that is made in our country and built by Irish people,” said Gavin.
As well as the Queen, actors such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Dame Helen Mirren also got a first look.
Meanwhile, judges were busy yesterday viewing each show garden, display and stall, with accolades and certificates due to be decided upon and shared out this morning.
Among the Irish entrants hopeful of recognition is the Happy Hen House trade stand, which received an award last year in its first appearance at the show.
Run by Peter Winckworth and Henrietta Bisgood from Co Wicklow, the two-year-old company specialises in building modern hen houses and bird tables, with prices ranging to about £300.
Ms Bisgood said: “There is an importance on sustainability here, and the idea of keeping your own hens is becoming very popular again. There is definitely a demand for more attractive, decorative hen houses that add to your garden.”
Sure to catch the eye is the design at the Houses, Castles and Gardens of Ireland stand, which promotes Irish tourism at garden shows in Britain and the US.
The representative of the association of owners of heritage properties that runs the stand, Sara Waldburg, said this was the fifth time the association had a stand at the show.
Each year there was growing interest from the public in visiting Ireland, she said. The association receives 45 per cent of its funding from Fáilte Ireland and invested about £15,000 into its display, with about £4,500 going towards rent.