EU's 'Shared Roots, Common Shade' garden wins two gold medals at Bord Bia Bloom 2026

The EU's Shared Roots, Common Shade garden was awarded a gold medal in the show garden category at the Bord Bia Bloom Festival in Dublin's Phoenix Park on 28 May. The garden also won the overall concept award.

The Shared Roots, Common Shade garden was designed by Oliver and Liat Schurmann and sponsored by the European Commission.  It forms part of the Europe: The Power of Together storytelling campaign, which will be launched alongside Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July 2026. 

Uniting 27 trees, reflecting the number of EU Member States, the garden represents the strength of working together to build our common future. As Ireland works to restore biodiversity and expand woodland cover for future generations, the garden reflects the importance of long-term investment, sustainability and European cooperation.

The trees frame a pathway and protects an underlayer of natural planting. Designed as a harmonious tree garden, it symbolises unity while offering ever-growing shelter to all its inhabitants. Here, visitors can travel through the garden to experience the magical atmosphere of this natural woodland.

Oliver and Liat Schurmann, the garden designers, said: "We are absolutely delighted that our work has found such recognition".

Peter Power, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said: "This award honours Ireland’s membership of the European Union by recognising the value of working together with our neighbours to shape our common future, security and wellbeing. Our garden, with its 27 trees, reflects the European budget’s long-term investment in our common prosperity”. 

Video:
"Shared Roots, Common Shade", a video preview of the garden by Jack Caffrey. 

More information:
Oliver and Liat Schurmann have won numerous medals and awards for their cutting-edge designs which are influenced by the continental approach to functional garden design. This is their 14th Show Garden at Bord Bia Bloom.  In 2024, their ‘In Perspective’ garden for the European Commission, won triple gold at Bloom. In 2025, their work was part of the Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. 

Bord Bia ‘Bloom’ is Ireland’s largest garden and food festival in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, attracting more than 250,000 people over 5 days (28th May – 1^st June 2026).  After Bloom, the garden will be rehoused, where it can continue to grow and flourish, leaving a legacy for the people of Ireland long after the Presidency.

‘Europe: The Power of Together’ is a storytelling campaign launching alongside Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union (1 July – 31 December 2026). Organisations, institutions and businesses are being asked to reflect on, and publicly share, what European membership has meant to their work and lives. With the ‘Europe: The Power of Together’ campaign it aims to capture the full spectrum of what Europe means: shared values, cross-border collaboration, inspiration, innovation, and the quiet, everyday ways that being part of something larger shapes who we are.