A group of women in North Belfast used lockdown to transform a derelict dumping ground into a blossoming community garden.
Magpie Ladies Garden was started in March 2020 as a way to brighten up residential streets near the Ballysillan Road.
Located down an entry just off Legann Street, the group are now able to sell fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants they grow to help fund the upkeep of the garden.
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The building of the garden has also helped increase community spirit, as friends and neighbours joined together to clean the derelict spot up.
Anita Rankin, who has been living in the area for 26 years, said she has loved every minute of getting the garden started over the past two years.
"We had talked about doing it for years, but when Covid hit we decided we would clean it all out," she said.
"This corner was just dumping ground for years before we started this. It was stacked high with rubbish and weeds. We got tonnes of rubbish out of it and then started digging. Everybody was off work, so neighbours, family and friends all helped out.
"After we got it cleared we started making planters and with Covid it was hard to even get soil, so we wondered how we would get it.
"We started making wee wooden planters out of old decking that a neighbour supplied and we charged a few pounds for them, with all the money going back into the garden. That's how we were able to keep up with buying bark, soil and seeds."
Everything in the garden has been donated by friends and neighbours, with a shed donated by a community group being the only brand new item.
Anita said: "Everyone in the area has been great, if people buy wee plants off us, they bring us back tubs for the next ones.
"We started doing gardening courses ourselves, an OCN level one, it's just basic gardening. We plant seeds and if they grow, they grow, but if they don't, they don't, that's the way we learn.
"When we started growing vegetables, we would've given them out to pensioners in the area and the community centre came over with the kids from the summer scheme to let them have a go at gardening too."
A number of local residents are involved with the Magpie Ladies Garden, but Anita and neighbour Linda Calderwood, who has been living in the area for 30 years, are at the site most days.
During lockdown, they said the group was a lifeline for those involved.
Anita said: "We love being out here. It's great for the mental health side of things, I think we've all suffered in one way or another, even through Covid, and it's good to come out here, have a good natter and a cuppa.
"When the weather's good it makes it even better. A lot of kids come around here and would help out too. Linda's grandson is only two and he loves coming around to the garden."
Over time, the Ballysillan area has been changing. What was once a derelict piece of land rife with anti-social behaviour is now a thriving community garden that has been bringing the area together.
"Last July we had a party for the kids in the area in here on the Eleventh Night. It was a brilliant wee night, we had a BBQ and made party bags for the kids. We're trying to do more of this," Anita continued.
"The spot is quite private, it's a nice spot. It wasn't always like this, there used to be a lot of anti-social behaviour around this area. But over time a lot of that has gone.
"There are more families living in our street now. It's good to see new people moving into the area, and we all look out for each other."
The group are always on the look-out for soil and wood that they can reuse. If you have any donations, you can get in touch with the Magpie Ladies Garden by clicking here.
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