Internationally celebrated landscape designer set to give a talk in Mayo

Internationally celebrated landscape designer, inspirational speaker, occasional television presenter and founder of the global environmental movement We Are The ARK, Mary Reynolds, will give a talk in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet, on Monday, March 18, starting at 7 p.m.

The Wexford native was the youngest winner of a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, has a weekly column in the RTÉ Guide, and has written the bestselling book, The Garden Awakening.

As part of Belmullet’s bicentenary celebrations, Áras Inis Gluaire (Erris Arts Centre) and Baile Slachtmhar Bhéal an Mhuirthead (Belmullet Tidy Towns) are co-hosting this unique event, during which Mary will kindly launch a new children’s book called An Bhumbóg Mór Bhuí ar Strae, which follows the story of a Great Yellow Bumblebee’s journey westwards, searching for sustenance in the beautiful and biodiverse habitats of Erris and Belmullet.

This charming bilingual book has been written and illustrated by local people Katherine Mangan, Margaret Tallott and Jean Beard. It is an exciting and innovative project which has been brought to fruition by Baile Slachtmhar Bhéal an Mhuirthead and the Mayo Heritage Office (Mayo County Council). This publication is a further reflection of the nationally acclaimed work of Belmullet Tidy Towns in relation to biodiversity and sustainability.

According to the famous English anthropologist Dame Jane Goodall, Mary Reynolds 'gives us a much needed reason for hope', showing us how thousands of even small wildlife-friendly gardens, including school gardens, can provide habitats for embattled wildlife around the world.

This is an incredible opportunity to hear Mary speak passionately about her hopes of us all being part of the solution to the environmental crises that we are facing.

According to Mary: “You can still have a garden that incorporates your needs, but … it is also an opportunity to support nature and surround your home with hope and life.”

Tickets to this exclusive talk and book launch cost €10, and are available from the Áras Inis Gluaire box office.