Altamont Estate and Gardens covers 16 hectares, and includes a garden centre, formal and informal gardens, grasslands, and treeline and woodland habitats leading to the banks of the River Slaney. Ecologist Mark Desmond presents its interesting biodiversity which includes the Slaney river which flows along the eastern boundary of the estate and is protected under the Slaney River Valley Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Seamus O’ Brien, Head Gardener of the National Botanic Gardens, Kilmacurragh, recounts the adventures of a trip he led in July 2022 to the mountains of Ladakh, where he and his group studied a high altitude desert flora. Ladakh has some of the greatest glaciers in all Asia and these glaciers water the deserts on the mountain slopes and valleys below, giving rise to a rich flora. Hear how climate change is threatening this rare eco-system.

In his talk, “Soil to Seed” for the Carlow Garden Festival, Colm will delve into the area of regenerative organic vegetable production and share with you the most environmentally sustainable approach to growing vegetables. Learn how to reduce your inputs, cut your labour and reap the rewards while enhancing the environment. Unsurprisingly soil health will be at the forefront of the talk with a particular focus on improving healthy soil which translates to healthy vegetables.

Shankill Castle’s host’s a trio of events in Carlow Garden Festival, which starts with Kitty’s informative talk, Prime Plants for the Irish Kitchen Garden, focusing on ten essential kitchen garden plants that thrive in our Irish climate. Mary and Robert White of Blackstairs Ecotrails lead an in-depth foraging walk through the grounds and organic farm of Shankill Castle. Seamus Jordan of Plúr Bakery will cook up a three-course feast supper, celebrating foraged, seasonal and local ingredients, ending the day with a relaxed evening of great food and garden chat.

Should gardening change and somehow; ‘return to nature’? At London’s big Chelsea Show there has been a new emphasis on sustainable  gardening and the use of eco-friendly native ’plants’ and yet the award for the Best in Show went to a large exhibit which is unsustainable in British gardens and are  the very opposite of no-mow  gardening. Robin Lane Fox explores the contradictions here and the way in which people, an invasive species, react to them, whether visitors to his garden or professors and students in the big Oxford college gardens he runs.

Shirley Lanigan's workshop at Kilgraney House and Herb Garden covers the sowing, propagation, cuttings, caring and harvesting of herbs that can be grown in Ireland. There will be demonstrations on each of the aspects as well as helpful hints on the use of herbs in cooking.

Matthew examines how plants can be used to maximum effect whatever the shape or size of the garden. Using examples of gardens designed by Matthew over the last 20 years, this talk considers the use of plants in relation to materials, place and vernacular, the architecture of plants and the importance of the garden in the wider environment. Alys tells the story of making the most of what you’ve got, of what to take with you and what to start again. Alys shows you how to redesign a garden sustainably by recycling what you’ve got rather than starting again. And how small really is beautiful, that a slither of garden can truly feed you, the wildlife, look beautiful and leave you plenty of time to go swimming in the sea.

Marie Staunton leads a garden tour around Delta Sensory Gardens showing how gardeners can mix texture and colour to create wonderful and exciting combinations. Regularly voted as top visitor attraction in Carlow on Trip Advisor, this journey takes the visitor through the series of multi-sensory gardens including the formal Rose Garden, the Five Senses Garden, the Circle of Life and the Stolen Child Garden, which have been created by Ireland's leading garden designers to indulge every one of the senses.

Fergus, chosen by Gardens Illustrated as one of the 30 most influential living garden designers and horticultural educator in Britain, talks about the history of Great Dixter, the 15th century manor house and its restoration by the famous arts and crafts architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens. In a wide ranging talk, he explores the influence of Nathaniel Lloyd on its infrastructure and design