Buncrana to blossom with new community garden
The two-acre garden will be situated adjacent to Cockhill Chapel after Buncrana Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley leased a portion of land to the community group.
A new Buncrana Community Garden has been established in Cockhill.
The two-acre garden will be situated adjacent to Cockhill Chapel after Buncrana Parish Priest Fr Francis Bradley leased a portion of land to the community group.
A community garden was identified as something Buncrana needs at all the Eco Strategy sessions held by the Inishowen Development Partnership recently.
Committee member Anne Gill said the new garden “would have many physical, educational, social, and mental health benefits for the community. We hope to acquire funding to help with establishing and running the garden.”
It is envisaged that the garden between the chapel and St Mary’s Estate will be embraced by a diverse cross-section of the community, including local residents, migrants and community groups.
Fr Bradley said he was delighted to give a piece of land to the group after they enquired about leasing it.
“As far as I was concerned, they were pushing at an open door. The ground was lying fallow for a long time near my home and we are tidying it up at the moment.”
“It is handy to get to from the town as the bus runs in and out there. There are toilets nearby and good facilities to enable people to come and work, so they can enjoy that side of things. It is totally in accord with the sea model that was presented by Pope Francis about how we should care for the earth. It was a win-win request and was something I was delighted to respond to positively.”
Anne added that the garden has already attracted interest from several Buncrana-based community groups.
“Buncrana Tidy Towns intend to put a polytunnel on the site to grow plants for their wonderful displays, as do Cockhill School, who have also expressed an interest in managing a few beds.”
Mr William Doherty, principal of St. Oran’s NS, speaking about the garden, said: “It’s a fantastic community collaboration and I believe that the children from St. Oran’s will have an opportunity to be part of the learning.”
Wild Inishowen plans to have a bed to grow bare-root trees at the garden before transplanting them in the winter months. Colm Grant, a renowned local gardener, wildlife and conservation expert, will be spearheading the project. The first piece of sod at the new ground was turned by Mr Grant in April.
Dunree's Amach Anseo will be sharing their seven-year experience of running a community garden to ensure the success of the project.
Swilly Gardening Club has visited the site lately after recently running a Community Garden Course funded by the ChangeMakers Donegal Seeds of Change programme.