A new community allotment group has taken root in Castlewellan, creating a shared space for locals to grow food, learn new skills, and connect with nature. Situated on Station Road, the allotment has already hosted its first event—planting a willow dome—and is set to become a hub for sustainable living, well-being, and community spirit.
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the new Castlewellan Community Allotments was opened, with a lively event. There was music, cake, pizza and a bit of elbow grease!
‘I am absolutely delighted to see so many people here today’ said Angela Drayne the Chair of the group. ‘It has taken a lot of hard work and we have had help from so many people’ she said. ‘We really would like to thank Newry Mourne and Downe District Council for leasing this land, which was once an old disused playground, and is now a safe community space where people can grown their own food’.
Geraldine Brannigan the secretary to the group said ‘it was amazing that all the plots went so quickly, there clearly is a demand!’
The group received funding from the Housing Associations in Northern Ireland, DAERA, the Elevate project and County Down Rural Community Network among others. The funding was used to fit out and secure the site, and allowed the plots to be free for the first year.
Nicholas McCrickard from CDRCN said ‘this is a great project and I am really delighted with the sense of community it has generated’.
The group hope to add additional plots later this year so if anyone wants to see if they have green fingers they can contact the group through their Facebook page: Castlewellan Community Allotments.