In this inspiring and richly illustrated talk, award-winning garden designer Chris Beardshaw explores the evolution of the English garden style, with a particular focus on the iconic herbaceous border. Tracing its development from early formal planting schemes to the more naturalistic and expressive designs of today, Chris highlights the influential figures who shaped this essentially British approach to gardening. He reveals the principles behind plant selection, colour harmony, structure and seasonal interest, offering practical insights into how great borders are composed. Blending history, design theory and personal experience, Chris demystifies the artistry behind planting design and encourages gardeners of all levels to think creatively and create their own beautiful, painterly borders at home.
Make the most of the opening weekend of the Carlow Garden Festival with this great-value pass!
Have you thought about booking the weekend pass which gives you access to four great talks at a reduced rate of €70 (normally €80) ? The Great Opening Weekend bundle gives you access to:
Fiann Ó Nualláin in Leighlinbridge – The Garden Village
Keeping It Country – The James & Joe Garden Show at Arboretum
Chris Beardshaw is an award-winning garden designer, plantsman, author and broadcaster with over 30 years’ experience in horticulture. Widely recognised for his work on BBC television and radio, he is a familiar voice on Gardeners’ Question Time and has presented popular series including Gardeners’ World and The Flying Gardener. Chris is also an accomplished author.
His design portfolio spans prestigious projects for organisations such as the National Trust, English Heritage, The Royal Parks and Great Ormond Street Hospital, alongside acclaimed show gardens and private commissions. Known for his thoughtful, plant-led approach and deep understanding of landscape, Chris combines creativity with strong design principles to create timeless, sustainable gardens.
Guided Tours at Duckett’s Grove
Free guided tours of Duckett’s Grove are available on Sunday, 26th July 2026, at 12.30pm, 2pm and 4.30pm. Meet at the Visitor Reception Point in the main courtyard.
Discover the home and gardens of the Duckett family, by taking a guided tour of the ruins, walled gardens and pleasure grounds. Led by Daniel Mc Daid, a guided tour here is a captivating and educational experience. Daniel’s passion and in-depth knowledge brings the history of Duckett’s Grove alive, making it an enthralling experience for visitors of all ages. His ability to convey the essence of the Duckett family legacy is captivating. Book your tour at Duckett’s Grove Free Guided Tour – Carlow Garden Festival
If you prefer you can pick up a free audio guide at the reception point within the courtyard to hear the stories and meet some of the characters who lived and worked here for 250 years before the disastrous fire of 1933 destroyed Duckett’s Grove. Hear from William Duckett, his wife Maria, her daughter Olive O’Grady, as well as Mr Mitchell the steward and Mr O’Brien the head gardener, and discover what life was like for the gentry and those they employed to work at Duckett’s Grove. Available in English, Irish, French, German, Spanish and Italian.
Explore More in Duckett’s Grove Courtyard
Red Admiral – Housed in one of the original outbuildings in the courtyard area, Red Admiral features authentically Irish-made country clothing by Taniya Deane, designed to celebrate Ireland’s rich cultural heritage while promoting sustainability and supporting local artisans. This collection is inspired by traditional Irish country attire, infused with modern designs and produced using sustainable materials. Their aim is to preserve the essence of Ireland’s rural fashion traditions while contributing to Ireland’s local economy and positioning their products as premium Irish-made apparel in the global market. The Carlow countryside has long been known for its distinct and practical clothing, rooted in rural life and farming communities. Garments such as tweed jackets, waxed cotton coats, and woollen jumpers have become symbols of durability, craftsmanship, and heritage and are sold from the Red Admiral.
In the courtyard of Duckett’s Grove is also Nic Angels Candles who individually hand – craft marble, fragrance-free, Irish-made dinner candles creating unique patterns on each. They also hand paint glass candle holders to accompany their candles.
Tea, coffee and pastries are served in Duckett’s Grove while guided tours of Duckett’s Grove are available on the day.
Directions: R93 RF80. From Dublin/Waterford take Exit 4 off the M9 motorway. Follow signs for Castledermot, then take the R418 Castledermot – Tullow Road for 6km and turn right at the signed junction. From Carlow Town take the R726 Hacketstown Road for 10km to Killerig Cross. Turn left at this junction onto the R418 for 2.5km, turn left again at the signed junction.
Type of event: Indoor event with opportunity to view the gardens at Duckett’s Grove before or after the talk.
NEWSLETTER
To stay up-to-date with our news
Carlow Tourism and Carlow Tourist Office, College Street, Carlow
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
