CLIMATE

Higgins warns planet is ‘in peril’ at garden festival launch

The President stressed the importance of Bloom amid “alarming rate” of biodiversity loss

President Michael D Higgins that “a rhetoric of war and arms production” should not “sideline” global aims related to climate change and sustainability. Picture: Colin Keegan

Michael D Higgins has warned that the planet is “in peril” as he launched a major gardening festival in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.

This is the 17th year of the Bord Bia Bloom event, where gardens, plants and food are showcased to thousands of visitors over the June bank holiday weekend.

The Irish president said that the Bloom festival had become “more important” than an event to promote garden designs, and had developed into “a gathering ...