Ballee blooms with £96,000 community gardening makeover: Storey

Social Development Minister, Mervyn Storey MLA, has announced funding of £96,000 for a community gardening project for use by local residents in Ballee, Ballymena.

The Drumtara Shared Space Community Growing Project will transform an unused grass area in Drumtara, within the Ballee estate, into a community gardening and allotment site for use by local residents.

The project will include:

• 33 allotments
• an upper allotment entrance and seating area
• a wildflower meadow with fruit trees
• compost bins, a tool shed and poly tunnel; and
• a growing space for people with limited mobility

Minister Storey said: “This is an excellent project which will provide an opportunity for the community to come together to develop the allotments as a shared space where a wide range of residents, young and old, can work together, share skills, build relationships and benefit from healthy lifestyles.

“This project forms part of my Department’s Neighbourhood Renewal strategy to improve the quality of life for people in some of our most deprived neighbourhoods. It will increase community involvement, offer a healthier lifestyle option and provide local residents with training to enable them to develop and maintain their allotments.”

The project will be delivered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, (NIHE). The NIHE’s appointed landscape contractor will also deliver both accredited and non accredited training to the allotment management committee and allotment holders to equip them with the necessary skills to sustain and grow the site.

Notes to editors: 

For media enquiries please contact the DSD Press Office on 028 9082 9496 or email: press.office@dsdni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.

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