The Change X funding supported residents in Clonoulty in creating a community garden that is accessible to all. With this funding we were able to develop a disused space into a space for biodiversity, for children, for adults, a space with sensory experiences, a more active, practical and social space, a space for growing and a space for learning.

After an initial period of research and consultation with our team and other local residents we ran a series of activities over six weeks to allow people to come together, share ideas and collaborate in ideas to develop the garden. Residents were invited to a number of public events and workshops to discuss the long term plan and development of this new community social space. These activities mostly took place on the site where the community’s new biodiversity garden is being developed. We created a temporary pop-up work space in the garden to create a hub of activity and encourage more engagement with the space.

We ran a series of workshops, talks, events and making sessions that included working with a number of people within the community, drawing on local skill sets and expertise, including a local welder, stone mason and upholsterer. A garden diary with project updates was included in the weekly parish newsletter and a series of project broadsheets were produced and distributed via local business, to share the story of the project and connect with a wider audience.

We spent the time together gardening, talking, printmaking, reflecting, walking, drawing, mapping, building and gardening some more. Together we embraced the role and function of outdoor public space and public commons as tools for creative engagement. As the project grew it turned into an amazing four months that revolved around the development of this local community and biodiversity garden in Clonoulty village - creating a space and place for everyone and anyone to meet and be creative, to grow and to share, to learn and to teach.

We ran a launch event in the garden with local food and music to officially open this new outdoor social space. A pop-up shop was also set-up as part of the local vintage rally to explore how best to make the garden a sustainable community venture.

The change x funding allowed us to buy tools and materials for building a large number of beds for growing vegetables and setting up a herb garden. We were able to make a sign marking the entrance to the garden to create a more welcoming, inclusive entrance to the garden and to celebrate the stories and interactions that have happened throughout the development of this space and project as well as providing information to the wider community. We were also able to start the development out of our outdoor classroom.

We are currently in conversation with the local National School to collaborate with us on setting up an after school garden club as part of our plans for the kids kitchen garden and building an outdoor classroom within the garden.

The work over the last few months has resulted in a range of positive outcomes including:
- the creation of a green community hub
- reinvigorated community pride
- building connections with the local church
- getting children to think about and love vegetables
- activating Elders in the community
- creating new experiences for residents of the village within their own space
- supporting biodiversity
- engaging the Tidy villages community
- celebrating the small and the local and showing how small changes can be powerful
-decreased isolation
- upcycled, recycled and reused objects
- teaching children about the power of green space
- demonstrating the power of creative approach and creative problem solving

Hi Aoife, pleasure to discuss again today and move forward to the design. Will be sending suggestion shortly with material list for your space. Please feel free to come back to me with feedback so that we can make adjustments as needed. Will be planning to organise a visit in person in October to Ireland site so am excited to see your project in person and meet your community!! Speak very soon!

Our garden launch party took place on Thursday 17th August. It was officially opened by two of the founding members of the Clonoulty Tidy Villages group. We had about 40 people of all ages from the local community community turn out of it and we had food, music and art activites for the kids!

More site photos

Our Action Plan and Project Timeline for the next six months attached as PDF files

Team Photos and photos and sketch of site

Nearly there before completing your challenge! Looking forward to reading your action plan! Please do add pictures of your site and a team photo! :)