Big ideas for small spaces

Manama : This year’s Bahrain International Garden Show will feature the latest agricultural innovations in utilising limited resources to create small gardens and green spaces, it was announced. 

The University of Bahrain will be designing a special display, demonstrating unique ideas in utilising limited spaces to easily create ‘compact gardens’, which is also the theme of this year’s show. 

More than 200 participants are expected to participate in the exhibition held over an area of 7000 square meters at the Bahrain International Convention and Exhibition Centre.  The expo will officially open on February 22 

“A section of the exhibition has been allocated to showcase pictures of local homes and buildings with creative ways to introduce different plants and flowers that are suited to limited spaces and our climate. Another section has been allocated to showcase practical ideas and solutions for designing small spaces in residential areas such as balconies, roofs, and exteriors, focusing on the positive impacts of limiting pollution, beautifying residences, and providing fresh produce for the owners’ needs,” said National Initiative for Agricultural Development (NIAD) Secretary-General Shaikha Maram bint Isa Al Khalifa. 

The commercial section in Hall 1, includes many agricultural companies and nurseries that market different products such as flowers, saplings, garden furniture, lighting tools, and agricultural services. Hall 2 will be the Awareness section, which will include official and educational authorities as well as NGOs, to spread agricultural awareness through their latest agricultural projects. 

A number of international companies from Italy, Netherlands, Greece, UK, Germany, Japan, Canada, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, India, and Russia along with regional participants from Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Oman, Lebanon, Syria, and Morocco will showcase their latest agricultural innovations, designs, technologies and experiments at the show 

 14 local farmers, who were selected by a jury will exhibit their produce at the show which will also include an entertainment area, “Khalasi Garden”. 

For the first time, the exhibition will include a sensory garden designed for autistic and special needs individuals featuring aromatic and colourful plants, as well as waterfalls and relaxing music. 

“This garden will provide a sensory delight to engage all senses and will be donated to the Alia Centre for Early Intervention at the end of the show,” she said.   

The expo, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and supported by  Wife of His Majesty the King & Supreme Council for Women Chairwoman HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa and President of the Consultative Council of the National Initiative for Agricultural Development, will be open to the public from February  23 to  26.