Kells project shortlisted for national award
An amazing project, which has seen the total revival of the walled garden at Headfort House in Kells and the creation of a new organic fruit and vegetable shop and drop in centre in Carrick Street, has been shortlisted for the national Get Involved Sustainable Communities award.
The venture is being run in conjunction with the Tamhnach Foundation, which provides support to people suffering from stress.
Judges from Get Involved including environmentalist and broadcaster, Duncan Stewart, visited the project on Monday and were shown around the garden and saw the fantastic work that has been carried out there.
They also visited the shop and drop-in centre which is proving to be very much in demand.
The project was chosen by the Meath Chronicle as this county’s entry in the national Get Involved sustainable communities campaign, which has been developed by 51 local newspapers throughout Ireland.
The Kells Community Growers has carried out a major transformation of the substantial kitchen gardens at Headfort House and its produce is on sale in the Carrick Street centre.
As well as selling the organic produce the centre offers mental wellbeing workshops and other related services, including a charity shop.
The garden project was a significant undertaking with 45 years’ worth of weeds and undergrowth to remove. However, over the summer and autumn months, great progress was made and it is once again a productive garden.
The Kells Community Growers recently linked up with the Tamhnach Foundation, which provides workshops, therapies and support circles to alleviate people suffering distress arising from spiritual, psychological, emotional, nutritional and physical challenges.
The produce of the kitchen garden will now help sustain the new drop-in facility.
“It will be a place to relax and enjoy the space,” says Patricia Mc McAlernon, chairperson of the Kells Community Growers’ group, who has recently also become a director of the mental health charity.
It will be there for people to drop in, have a cup of tea, or even some soup made with vegetables from the kitchen garden.