Work beginning on new community garden in Dundalk

Work is beginning on an exciting new project in Dundalk, to develop a community garden and allotments on a site at Hoey's Lane in Muirhevnamor in Dundalk, that had previously hosted a community garden some years ago.

The Dundalk Democrat spoke with some of the committee involved in the new endeavour, to learn more about the plans for this unique site, a large field of up to around three or four acres, a large part of which is covered in vegetation.

Cllr Kevin Meenan is one of the committee members, and explained that when the gardens were previously been in existence, they were run by Lucy Rafferty. He was one of the directors at the time and said that it was originally bigger but Louth County Council used a portion of the land for the park and the mini football pitches adjacent to it.

Kevin said that the site lay dormant for a long time but “came together through Muirhevnamor Community Council, and various other people got talking, saying that we need to get it back up and running. So I threw it out there and we got some interest from various people who were looking to do it.

Above: Jaanika Bukkonen, Michael Johnston, Kevin Meenan and Sorcha Casey

“Muirhevnamor Community Gardens had the whole thing (site). So when we were trying to work out how we'd develop it better, we needed a sort of, anchor tenant, for want of a better word. passive security, somebody who's going to be here nine to five. We had expressions of interest from various groups but they'd be coming and going. As it turns out Dundalk Men's Shed had to leave their premises in Seatown, they came on here with us. So we cancelled the existing lease from Muirhevnamor Community Gardens and Louth County Council created two new leases.

Funding from the Community Climate Action Fund of €5,908 along with a remarkable donation of €5,000 from Stephen McDowell, a man who grew up in the area and now runs a successful business, has meant that work on developing the site into a community garden, which would include a sensory garden and park, and allotments for those who wish to avail of them, can begin in earnest.

Jaanika Bukkonen, chairperson of Muirhevnamor Community Garden, said that work would now start to create allotment plots for people who wished to take one up, probably starting from around 50 square metre for the smallest ones, those who want bigger can take a double size, and so on.

Above: The field where the gardens are located is an area of ground beside Hoey's Lane in Dundalk. A lot of work lies ahead of the committee and its volunteers

Kevin explains that “we would be looking for the Council (Louth County Council) to do certain works. “That may be the first cut but we look to be solely independent from a lot of that. There's other grants that we've applied for.”

Looking across the field of vegetation, the work ahead of the group seems daunting but they sound more than up to the task. In an area to the left of the entrance is where the previous orchard used to be, and still exists. “We have to restore it, prune all these trees back and make it possible for people to navigate [around it]. What is possible to rejuvenate, we will do it”, Jaanika explains. She adds however, that “it isn't just a space for allotments, there will also be a sensory garden.”

Kevin explains “it will be somewhere for people to come to help their wellbeing. The location is great, you're in off the busy roads but not far from anything. You might as well be 100 miles away.”

For the design, Kevin says that “we have an architect involved, who is helping them at the moment (Dundalk Mens' Shed). He'd be local again and is very generous with his time. We have asked him to design a plan for this area. We've also met a landscaper to do up a design for the park as well.

Above: The remains of the orchard that was there with the original Muirhevnamor Community Gardens. Part of the work ahead will include bringing the orchard back to life

One of the benefits of the field lying idle for some time is the natural vegetation that has grown in the meantime, Tall wide hedges surround the field providing a haven for wildlife and native flora and fauna. Michael Johnston, one of the committee members, says that “we'll leave them for a couple of metres out, just for wildlife”.

Both Michael and Jaanika agree that a balance between it, and the new allotments and sensory garden, will help with local biodiversity. Michael adds that “once the sensory garden is put down, there will be an area just above where flowers will be planted. “So that when you're in the sensory garden, you can look up and there'll be 50-60 metres of a bank in front of you.”

For the allotments, the group says that there are already people waiting to take one up. Jannika says that “if you have 50 square metre allotments, you could fit maybe up to 80 on the site. There will need to be some roads in between as well.”

Maximising the use of the site is of most importance Kevin adds. “It's probably one of the biggest community gardens/allotments, I would imagine, anywhere. It's location, he adds, makes it ideal for people who may not have a car. “Every half hour there's a bus that goes by. You're beside Dunnes Stores. You have facilities.

The group admits that they have many plans for the future, once things get up and running. Looking at what might be possible if the allotments are successful with enough food produced, Michael and Jannika admit that ideas like a Farmers' Market and providing food to the local school and surrounding estates are among the many ideas they have and would like to explore.

“We have to get started but we have an unlimited number of possibilities”, Jannika adds. “The main priorities at present are to get the first cut done, a tool shed on site, measure out the allotments for people, get planks for raised beds, a little bit of compost to make it a little bit easier to start up for everyone, to get the community going.”

The group does hope that allotments would be ready for people to start planting, by at least next spring, and hopefully earlier with the help of the polytunnels. “We got the grant for the polytunnels. That gives us the opportunity to grow food out of season”, Jaanika adds.

Michael points to the school just beside the field and reveals that they hope to work with them. “We were thinking of putting in some sort of allotment, or whatever they wanted. Something where the children can walk up and down and have their own, adopt a plant, or something that they can work on. We need to talk with them about this.” 

It's a long term plan but the groups' enthusiasm for what lies ahead matches the tasks that lie ahead. Looking across the field, Michael says, “where else would you get it”. “It is a community that we are trying to build here”, Jaanika adds. “Its more than just the four or five of us.”

A huge boost that will help get the group's plans up and running was a large donation of €5,000 from a man who grew up in the area. The group says that the donation from Stephen McDowell, will not only help them financially, but it also gave them huge encouragement to continue with the plans.

“It's a local person coming back here”, Kevin adds, “who grew up in this area, who played here as a kid in these fields. This is him coming back, wanting to give something back to the community, and was delighted to give it to this.”

The Dundalk Democrat spoke to Stephen McDowell about the huge donation he made to the project. Stephen said that, “I'm from Muirhevnamor, that's where I grew up. The best days of my life were there. I've got friends there, that are still friends to this day. You couldn't ask for, to be brought up in a better place.

“I moved away, I've been away for a long time. Myself and my wife and the family moved back recently. I've a wee business in Dublin and its going quite well, it's going really well, thanks be to God. It just was my opportunity to say thanks for my upbringing. It kind of made me who I am today, being brought up there.

“We had to move away at a certain point for reasons that were beyond our control but being back in Dundalk means everything to me and my family.”

Looking at the challenges faced by people living in Muirhevnamor, Stephen pointed out “how difficult it must be for the people there now with everything that is going on in it. But back then, it had its own issues, but we had nothing. Nobody had anything. But they were the best people to ever be around.”

When asked about the size of the donation made by Stephen, he continues, “I'm only getting started with the place. It's going to be a long process there and every bit helps. I'm going to do everything I can to help out with the water supply and irrigation and anything at all. Water and storage, anything to do with that side, that's what I do for a living. Move water from A to B, So that's what I'm going to help out with.”

Stephen adds that it won't just be that though, “if I can get a shovel and a spade, that's what I'll be up there with, with everyone that's there. Whenever it was mentioned to me, I just said to myself, 'that's what that place needs', somewhere for local people to go. There'd be an awful lot of people in Muirhevnamor wouldn't own a car still. If they want to go to a park or something they have to get a bus out to Blackrock or wherever it is.

“But imagine being able to go out just across the road if you're a mother or you're a granny, if you're a father, you're a grandfather, with your grandchild or your son and a pram, just walk across the road and walk through a lovely park and sit down and let all your troubles leave your shoulders. Wouldn't it be great? And there's a lot of people living in that area and they'll need it.”

The plans for the area, the group admits, will all depend on the people they have on board. Their dedication and enthusiasm for what is shaping up to be such a valuable and worthy project however, suggests that the right people are there and the future is an exciting one. There is a lot of work to be done, but step by step, and with the local and wider community's support, Muirhevnamor Community Gardens could become a heart of the community in Dundalk.