Designers Announced for Auckland Garden Designfest

Designers Announced for Prestigious Auckland Garden Designfest

Organisers of the Auckland Garden DesignFest have aptly chosen the first day of spring to announce their much anticipated designer line up. The 2015 event will showcase 20 gardens representing the design skills of 16 designers over two days on 14 and 15 November.

The festival is jointly organised by the Rotary Club of Newmarket and the Garden Design Society of New Zealand, (GDSNZ) and this will be the third time the biennial charity event has taken place.

Joining Chelsea Flower Show Silver Medalist, Xanthe White and TV and radio gardening personality, Tony Murrell at the DesignFest are talented New Zealand designers; Trish Bartleet, Nigel Cameron, Trudy Crerar, Barbara Garrett, Joanna Hamilton, Phillip Millar, Bryan McDonald, Sue and Colin McLean, the design duo of Mark Read and Richard Neville, Murray Reid, Robin Shafer and Karen Wealleans.

Designers were required to submit gardens which were then reviewed by a panel of experts from the Garden Design Society of New Zealand. All of these gardens have not previously been open to the public and many may not be again. There will be a diverse range of gardens on show, in terms of both size and style and the talented designers will also be onsite to talk to visitors about their designs.

GDSNZ, Joint Chairperson, Rose Thodey, says; “We are absolutely delighted to have such an array of brilliant designers at this year’s festival. The gardens they have created are outstanding and we can’t wait to share them with visitors in November.”

Proceeds from the festival will go to Ronald McDonald House, Garden to Table and children’s charities supported by the Rotary Club of Newmarket Charitable Trust.

“We have such wonderful sponsors onboard this year who really share our passion for garden design and we thank them for their support. A huge thank you also to the garden owners who will very kindly open up their private gardens to the public. Without these generous people and thousands of volunteer hours, the festival simply would not happen,” says Thodey.

Barry Thom, Director, Unlimited Potential Real Estate, the Premier Sponsor of the event, says; “Every day we see the value that well thought-out design can add to a property. We jumped at the chance to champion this event and showcase New Zealand’s outstanding garden design talent whilst supporting some incredible charities.”

Wayne Howett, CEO of Ronald McDonald House, says; “We have been one of the charity partners for this event since it was founded in 2011 and we continue to be grateful for the generosity not just of Aucklanders, but the many other visitors from around New Zealand and even Australia who attend what has become a great weekend for garden and design enthusiasts.”

Tickets for the Auckland Garden DesignFest are on sale at iTICKET, plus various garden retailers (see website for details) and also at the garden gate. Visitors can choose from a $65 all garden ticket or single garden access for $10 each. Discounted Earlybird tickets are also available until 30 September. Group discounts are also available.

For more information and updates about the Auckland Garden DesignFest visit www.gardendesignfest.co.nz or follow them on Facebook.

-Ends-

© Scoop Media