A Monaghan garden designer has won big at this year's Bord Bia Bloom festival in Phoenix Park. Benny Magennis from Clontibret claimed silver in the Large Concept Garden category with the National Dairy Council.
The local man is a creative designer heavily involved in multiple disciplines, from landscape design and creative and visual art to product and furniture design. He also creates concept installations for public spaces and company brands.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Benny said he is "delighted" with the win. "I couldn't really believe it," explained Benny. "I didn't know what to expect because I was doing such a large, strong, concept garden. I'm really delighted with the silver, a bit shocked but it's great to see all my hard work pay off."
According to Benny, this large concept garden pays homage to the Irish climate. It honours the crucial role our climate plays in the quality and sustainability of our farming businesses, while recognising farmers’ responsibility to protect our natural resources and combat climate change. Benny grew up surrounded by dairy farms so has a natural understanding of sustainable dairy production methods and the importance of protecting Ireland’s precious rural biodiversity.