Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Orlaith Clinton

West Belfast community farm thrives in St James thanks to community volunteers and young people

In the heart of a tight-knit community in West Belfast, young people are visiting a local farm to feed the animals before school at 9am.

St James' Community Farm has been running for almost seven years, attracting families across Belfast and beyond. In total, there are close to 50 animals at the farm, which recently underwent a major transformation.

Where it is located, at St James' Road and the Bog Meadows, it was once an abandoned piece of waste ground - today it is a safe place for animals and family-friendly spot for all. The recent development of £50,000, was funded by Belfast City Council and Groundwork NI.

READ MORE: Owners of popular Belfast business announce plans to move on

Speaking to Belfast Live, Damien Lindsay said: "We have had the new setup for over a year now, around 14 months. Before this, it was derelict ground, with a couple of overgrown plots.

"One of our volunteers Danny, was working with the homeless and asked if there was any ground down here for them to use. Basically they came down and suggested getting chickens.

"That went down really well and we just began to add to it. Now, we have around 48 animals and the whole idea is people who want to come, can come.

"We are open Tuesday to Friday 11am to 5om and then 11am to noon is set aside for private groups, so schools and youth clubs. Then on a Saturday, we have Farmer's Little Helpers from 12 to 1pm.

"The wee ones come down and clean the place and put out fresh bedding for the animals. We will probably extend opening hours on a Saturday now in the summer months. It is free to come to the community farm and we do have donation boxes and tubs of feed. We sell hanging baskets and window boxes too.

"We also are going to be doing another summer market, towards the end of the summer. The recent one we had, was just brilliant."

St James' Community Farm adapts to the season, with Halloween bringing a graveyard theme and Christmas seeing Santa's Grotto brought to the area, with the animals involved in nativity scenes.

And with the support of the local community and volunteers, it has grown into a much-loved scheme and day out.

For more information, you can find out about St James' Community Farm on their Facebook page here.

READ NEXT:

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.