Go Green

County Carlow has established a strong identity and brand for its Garden Trail, which currently features a collection of 18 garden attractions and includes a mix of great old gardens, town-sized gardens, community gardens, forest parks and award-winning garden centres.  Since 2002 the Carlow Garden Trail has been responsible for the organisation of the annual Carlow Garden Festival, held over an eight-day period at the end of July/beginning of August. Now in its twenty-third year, the festival sees twenty acclaimed gardeners and garden designers from Ireland and the UK deliver an inviting range of specialist talks, garden tours and workshops.

Our starting point – where we are at now?
 
1 .All publications printed for the Carlow Garden Festival use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper—a globally recognised standard that ensures the paper comes from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits. Sourced like a crop, the paper used for the Carlow Garden Festival publications comes from forests that are not only protected but are rapidly expanding daily. These forests are managed sustainably, ensuring a renewable supply of wood fibre while protecting biodiversity and capturing carbon.
2. The Carlow Garden Trail attaches great importance to community-led green spaces and the vital roles they play in supporting biodiversity, protecting the environment and promoting both the health of the planet and human wellbeing. In this regard, three community gardens form part of the Carlow Garden Trail, with An Gairdín Beo hosting a Carlow Garden Festival workshop each year.
3. An e-ticketing system is in operation negating the need for physical tickets with scanners used to facilitate entrance to garden festival events.
4. In certain venues visitors are encouraged to car pool for travel purposes, thus reducing carbon emissions. 

SEE CARLOW GARDEN TRAIL SUSTAINABILITY POLICY