Monkstown Community Garden helps Newtownabbey residents during cost of living crisis

The garden, located behind Monkstown village centre, was developed on disused land, repurposed into valuable growing space with previous help from the Housing Executive.

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.

Monkstown Community Forum representatives believe the facility is improving local people’s health and well-being by providing a safe, open-access, natural environment to socialise and learn new skills. 

Volunteers working at the garden come from different backgrounds and age groups, bringing together individuals who might not usually interact.

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 blossom 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.

“Monkstown Community Forum wishes to thank the Housing Executive for their support over the years and for this latest funding.

“We would love to hear from anyone interested in helping us with this fabulous community project.

“No experience is needed and everyone is welcome.”

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 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.

The space is also used for events, including cookery workshops and online services are also arranged to show participants people how easy it is to grow their own food.

Housing Executive Good Relations Officer Stephen Gamble said: “Margaret and the volunteers from the area have done an amazing job with this 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.”