Carmel O’Neill sent us this latest news:
In 2022, Fr Richard Behan, former parish priest of Blessington, Lacken & Valleymount donated the grounds at the back of the Parochial House for a community garden. A Men’s Shed group was established and they set about building raised beds to grow flowers and vegetables. Funding for the Men’s Shed project was secured with the help of Heather Humphreys and Wicklow County Council. In 2023, they got funding to construct a polytunnel.
The local primary school have now taken responsibility for 3 of the raised beds where they grow root crops and brassicas. Members of the Ukrainian community have had considerable success growing tomatoes, herbs and vegetables .
In Spring, the Men’s shed applied for funding from Kildare Wicklow Education Board for free gardening classes. The course was advertised in the Parish newsletter and this attracted 24 participants in the community. Each participant was provided with seeds and compost. The 10 week course covered techniques in growing flowers and vegetables both indoors and outdoors using sustainable methods as well as lawn care. The course will finish this week and the feedback from the participants has been very positive and encouraging.
