Gardeners blazing Clew Bay trail

GREEN FINGERS  Klaus Laitenberger, gardener and organic horticulturist is pictured launching the 2018 Clew Bay Garden Trail at Aurivo Homeland in Westport last week. He is pictured with some of the gardeners on the trail, from left: Eriko Hopkinson, Frank Steffens, Evleen Mulloy, Chris Smith, Deirdre Hughes, June Bourke, Stewart Boles, Wendy Stringer and Margaret McMenanin. More details of the garden open days can be found at Clewbaygardentrail.ie. Pic: Conor McKeown

Ciara Galvin

IT has been scientifically proven that gardeners are happier people. That’s according to the special guest at this year’s launch of the Clew Bay Garden Trail, Klaus Laitenberger.
Mr Laitenberger, who has written numerous books on organic vegetable growing, attended the official launch of the trail which was held at Aurivo Homeland, Westport on Thursday.
Gardening enthusiasts and sponsors gathered to get a taster of what the summer will bring, from the biodiversity of Gort na Gréine in Knappagh, Westport, to the sprawling surprises at Tourmakeady’s Drimbawn Garden.
Speaking ahead of the busy summer along the trail, one of the organisers, June Bourke, said the concept has grown ‘hugely’ over the past seven years and that tourists have shown a huge interest in the trail.
“The English are hugely interested in their gardens and now tourists can see all types of gardens,” said Mrs Bourke.
Showcasing each garden is a great way to learn new tricks when looking after flora, vegetables and all manner of plants in the garden, but Mrs Bourke said it is also about socialising.
“There’ll be tea, coffee and cake and it’s about making new friends.” Each garden along the trail picks a charity for donations to be made to upon entry.
Mr Laitenberger said he was delighted to be involved in the launch and commended those gardeners opening up their space to the public. Before the launch he visited Drimbawn Gardens in Tourmakeady which are lovely tended to by head gardener Frank Steffen.
“What unites gardeners is the love of it and the love of nature,” Mr Laitenberger told those in attendance to take of their gardening gloves the next time they’re tending to it as studies have shown that soil is home to the happy hormone serotonin.
The world renowned gardener informed the crowd that soil is key to the perfect garden and following the official launch, Mr Laitenberger waited around to answer all gardening queries.
The eleven gardens are Orchard Cottage, Muin, Money, Carraholly; Gort na Gréine, Knappagh, Westport; The Water Garden, Derintaggart, Newport; Knapparanda, Knappagh, Westport; Hammerbim, Knappagh; Drimbawn Gardwn, Tourmakeady; Speckled Meadow, Bofara, Brackloon, Westport; Killadangan, Westport; The Clog Factory, The Quay, Westport and Western Herbs and Veg, Clogher, Westport.