Festina Lente is a non-profit charity – which was established in 1988 by Mary Rachel Brophy – our aim then and now is to support the social and economic inclusion for those most at risk. Festina Lente is Latin for Hasten Slowly – it is the Plunkett family motto and one we adopted in 1995. We believe it relays our culture perfectly.
On the Festina Lente premises is the wonderful ‘Walled Garden’, a beautifully restored Victorian garden with a working kitchen garden, a stunning ornamental garden, as well as a lovely pond garden. The garden was owned by the Plunket Family until 1939, with each generation leaving their stamp by making various changes and extensions including a Fernery and a Summer House. The main path in the kitchen garden is bordered by an extensive herbaceous border over 40 meters long containing many unusual plants, backed by espalier trees screening the vegetable beds. A variety of fruit trees are grown along the walls including some of the original pear and apple trees, which still survive and are fruiting. This is still a working garden producing vegetables, fruit, plants and cut flowers all for sale in our garden shop.
The gardens are supported by the Department of Social Protection as a Community Service Programme. The garden also operates as a social enterprise providing opportunities for employment, volunteering, learning, workshop for local community groups heritage days a valuable recreation resource and venue.
More recently we have opened out garden shop where we sell a range of seeds, fresh cut flowers, our own grown fruit & veg as well as a large selection of other Irish made crafts and foods. Our shop is a very friendly environment where we encourage people to come in and chat, plus there are lots of gardeners around the shop who will offer tips and advice!
The gardens are always busy as we host a number of events and activities for people to enjoy and partake in. Some examples of these include:
> Horticultural Classes
> Flower Arrangement Classes
> Garden Shop
> Art Classes with Yanny Petters
> Sara’s Potions Plant Healing Workshop
> Allotments
> Garden Parties
> Available for Wedding Photographs
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Contact Us |
Festina Lente
Old Connaught Avenue,
Bray,
Co. Wicklow.
(Office Hrs. 8:30 – 5:00 Mon – Fri)
Main Phone Number:(01)-2720704 / 6
Maps and directions:
Buses that stop on the Dublin Road, Bray (Old Connaught) are the: 45, 45A, 84, & 145
When you get of your bus walk to the Old Connaught Road corner at the traffic rights turn right and walk that road for around 10-20mins (the time will vary with each individual) and turn in right at the sign for Festina Lente outside the lane.
