Colin’s gardening event a wild success in Westport

Colin Stafford Johnson gave a heartfelt presentation on his wildlife garden to a packed house in Westport. It was all the more touching as earlier he’d had news of the passing of his old friend, Aditya Singh, who he worked with on the BBC’s Natural World: Queen of Tigers. Colin’s passion and emotion was palpable as he bravely continued to speak about his wild garden.

Colin Stafford-Johnson is an award-winning cameraman, director and broadcaster and is one of the best-known faces on Irish television. He has most recently been on our screens presenting The Wild Gardener on BBC Two and Wild Cuba: A Caribbean Journey for which he won the prestigious Jackson Wild ‘Best Presenter-Led’ award for a second time.

The Mayo Green Party organised this month’s event in The Mariner Hotel, Westport. Peter Nolan, Green Party local candidate for Westport said, “We were delighted that so many people turned up to the event. Colin’s approach to a wild garden was inspiring and hopeful.

“His advice was profoundly simple… dig a pond, plant native hedgerows and wildflowers and transform even the smallest plot of land into a nature reserve.” 

Colin was also very supportive of farmers who he said must be supported through all the changes they are being asked to make in the coming years.

“We must celebrate and incentivise Ireland’s farmers to encourage more native hedgerows and trees across Ireland. Farmers are not to blame for the climate crisis, they have proven that they can quickly adopt new farming techniques. This time we have to make sure we ask them to do the right things,” said Nolan.

The Mayo Greens are very grateful to Colin for giving his time for this event and they plan to organise more over the coming months.