February 19th, 2026

Notes from RHSI Bellefield

We are still overwhelmed by support for our snowdrop open weekend. 720 was the official tally; with lots others onside including traders and our fantastic volunteers who kept everything moving, despite challenges with crowds and parking – to all of them I want to say a huge thanks 😊

This week another exciting development began here, with the start of the works for making the garden more acessible, repairing the glasshouse, improving singage and upgrading toilet facilities in the coachhouse to facilitate a coffee shop in the future. The work is being funded by the just transition scheme, through Failte Ireland and will be phased over the coming months, so visitors will see small changes to different parts of the site. It’s exciting to be moving this on and seeing major developments in Bellefield.

Elsewhere in the garden the relentless rain has hindered progress, but the snowdrops continue to shine and we have been working on labelling and sorting the collection .

We’ve also been tackling lots of pruning; a job that’s a little less dependent on good weather and training of plants along the garden walls.

Paul.