For the past few years, green-fingered Newtownabbey residents have been enjoying the fruits of their labour at Monkstown Community Garden.
This great community project, located behind Monkstown village centre, was developed on disused land and repurposed into a valuable growing space that brings together people from many different backgrounds.
The facility has been improving local people’s health and well-being by providing a safe, open-access, natural environment to socialise and learn new skills.
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The community garden features two polytunnels with a number of raised flower beds, providing residents with opportunities to participate in a variety of gardening-related activities. There's also a sensory garden providing a natural space to unwind and relax.
The garden was developed by Monkstown Community Forum, in partnership with Monkstown Village Initiatives, after a mixed-aged survey of residents found that 90% of them wanted an outdoor community area to be developed, while 80% of respondents said they would use a community garden.
Volunteers working at the garden come from different age groups, bringing those together who might not usually interact.
As well as benefiting local residents, the space is being used by pupils from Abbey Community College, mental health professionals and support agencies such as the Cedar Foundation.
The space is also used for events, including cookery workshops and online services are also arranged to show people how easy it is to grow their own food.
Produce from the garden is given to local tenants and others in the neighbourhood at no cost, helping local people with the cost-of-living crisis by reducing grocery bills.
Garden manager Margaret Connolly explained: “Food poverty and the growth of food banks in the area is concerning to us, so as well as the social and well-being benefits the garden brings, we are helping to alleviate these issues by growing fresh fruit and vegetables to share.
“Monkstown residents have found that growing and eating their own food saves money and is also rewarding as they build new friendships.
“We’re currently growing kale, broad beans, salad leaves and cabbage but we are starting to think about our warmer weather vegetable seeds like tomatoes, courgettes, basil, potatoes, peas, and turnips.
“We also have fruit trees and these start to have beautiful blossoms in April or May and are very attractive, especially to our bees.
“The garden is a great community space and we are really excited about the new growing season with the new raised beds ready for wonderful fresh vegetables and flowers.”
The Housing Executive recently awarded a grant of almost £1,500 to add ten new raised beds to the Monkstown Community Garden.
Housing Executive Good Relations Officer Stephen Gamble praised the work of Margaret and all the other volunteers from the area for the amazing job they have done with this special community space.
“We are delighted to support a project which has transformed a formerly unused piece of land into an environmentally-sound space that creates long-lasting benefits to our tenants, other local residents, mental health support agencies and schools in the area,” he added.
Margaret says the community garden is always in need of volunteers to help with this great community project and would welcome anyone who has a desire to become involved.
“We would love to hear from anyone interested in helping us with this fabulous community project. No experience is needed and everyone is welcome,” she added.
Video by Belfast Live videographer Harry Bateman.
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