Mental Health Commission’s ‘Future In Mind’ Garden Wins Triple Gold at Bord Bia Bloom 2026

The Mental Health Commission’s Future In Mind show garden has won triple gold at this year’s Bord Bia Bloom festival in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Designed by 24-year-old garden designer, Joe Eustace, from Newbridge, Co. Kildare, the garden received a prestigious Gold Medal from the judging panel, while also securing the Overall Medium Garden Category Award, and a third Gold Medal for Best in Show for Planting.

The Future In Mind garden was commissioned by the Mental Health Commission (MHC) to showcase the past, present and future of mental health care in Ireland, and to highlight the country’s continued journey towards accessible, recovery-focused and community-based mental health services.

The garden reflects Ireland’s move away from institutionalised mental health care towards a modern, trauma-informed and person-centred approach to services. Through carefully considered planting, water features and structural elements, the garden illustrates how regulation, accessibility and dignity are becoming central to the delivery of mental health care in communities across Ireland.

Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, John Farrelly, congratulated designer Joe Eustace on the achievement, saying: “We are absolutely delighted that our Future In Mind garden has received this recognition from the judges at Bloom 2026. Joe Eustace has brought the vision for this garden to life in an extraordinary way, capturing both how far mental health services in Ireland have progressed, and the positive direction they are continuing to take.

“The garden demonstrates how mental health care is changing for the better as regulation increasingly flows into community-based services. It reflects our ambition to ensure that people can access safe, high-quality and person-centred care in their own communities.

“It is our hope now that all the visitors to the garden over the next five days will not only enjoy what Joe has designed, but will also take home the message that the future regulation of community services, including CAMHS, by the Mental Health Commission is a positive step forward for services and for our society as a whole.”

The Inspector of Mental Health Services, Jim Lucey, also praised the award-winning design and its message, saying: “Joe’s garden tells a powerful story about progress, recovery and hope. It beautifully represents the evolution of mental health care in Ireland and the importance of ensuring services are compassionate, accessible and grounded within communities.

“We are particularly pleased that the judges recognised not only the overall design, but also the planting, which symbolises resilience, renewal and the future development of community mental health and CAMHS services.

“This garden helps communicate an important message - that effective regulation raises standards, improves quality and supports better outcomes for people using mental health services across Ireland.”

The Mental Health Commission is marking its 20th anniversary this year, alongside Bloom’s own 20-year celebrations, while preparing for an expanded remit under the Mental Health Act 2026, including the future regulation of community mental health and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).