From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Minister O'Gorman with Children from Creative Kids in the First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery at Bord Bia Bloom
The First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery - designed by children for children – will be on show at this year’s Bord Bia Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park, Dublin this June Bank Holiday weekend.
This unique large concept garden, funded by Dormant Accounts, will promote the importance of outdoor play for young children. This is part of the First 5 strategy, led by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Children and their families are invited to explore the garden and learn about the best way to use their outdoor spaces to support and encourage children’s learning and development, health and well-being.
The garden was designed in consultation with children, with award-winning garden designers, Oliver and Liat Schurmann of Mount Venus Nursery, Rathfarnham, Dublin consulting with 20 children from Creative Kids & Co pre-school in Walkinstown in coming up with the design. As First 5 ‘garden consultants’, these young children, many of whom do not have regular access to a garden, used their creativity and imaginations to give design ideas to the garden designers.
The result of the children’s creativity and the Schurmanns’ passion for and expertise in designing show gardens is the First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery, which evokes the magical atmosphere of a natural and untouched woodland.
Alongside the First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery, parents and their children are also invited to the department’s sand pit play area in the ‘Budding Bloomers’ section. There, parents will have the opportunity to find out about the national schemes to support parents with the cost of early learning and childcare, including the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
Record numbers of children – more than 120,000 are now benefitting from the NCS – more than double the number compared to this time in 2022 and record numbers of providers now offering this scheme to parents nationwide. Staff from the DCEDIY, City and County Childcare Committees and Pobal will be there to speak with parents who would like to find out more about these supports.
Minister Roderic O’Gorman said:
“During Bloom, thousands of parents will experience the First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery with their children, supporting their young children to play and learn.
“We know that children benefit from adventurous outdoor play in the natural world. My department’s garden will aim to show how all of us can harness the outdoors to support the learning and development of babies and young children.
"With the National Childcare Scheme more popular than ever, I’m also keen that parents take the opportunity to find out more about what the Scheme can offer. I’m delighted to see such strong uptake since the increase in subsidies was announced as part of the government’s €1 billion investment package in early learning and childcare in Budget 2023."
Speaking about the First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery, garden designer Oliver Schurmann, said:
“A network of winding paths and bridges over the stream give children different route choices. Large beech and hornbeam trees form a natural canopy of lush green leaves filtering the intense sunlight.
“The garden entrance is framed by arching willow structures where the main path splits into three directions through the layered planting of trees and shrubs, passing waterfalls and crossing bridges. It weaves through blueberry bushes and subtly-coloured woodland plants, arriving at a willow nest or at an open play area beside the stream or through a willow tunnel.
“Various materials laid out through the garden such as sticks, twigs, willow canes, stones and sand invite visiting children to be creative and experimental.”
DCEDIY staff will be on hand to greet members of the public at the festival and talk about the First 5 Garden of Wonder and Discovery, the benefits of outdoor play and to provide tips and guidance on how it can be encouraged and supported.
First 5 is the whole-of-government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families. This ten-year plan aims to ensure all children in Ireland have positive early experiences and get a great start in life. Find out more at first5.gov.ie/about-first-5.
The First 5 Garden of wonder and Discovery supports the implementation of First 5 strategy actions such as access to play and the inclusion of all children regardless of ability through the use of universal design principles and managed risk.
The First 5 Garden:
Since 2 January, the minimum hourly subsidy for families using registered early learning and childcare is €1.40 per child - offsetting up to €3,276 in annual out of pocket costs for early learning and childcare per child. Higher levels of subsidy – which are means assessed – are available to families on low income. Parents can sign up to the NCS on NCS.gov.ie