Castlewellan forest park has been earmarked for a potential landmark development by Newry Mourne and Down District Council (NMDDC).
The Co Down woodlands and lake, which features some of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe, attracts thousands of visitors each year.
The famous Annesley garden created in 1850 with rare horticultural species could now be complemented with the district’s first ever community social farm.
Read more: Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area to get knife amnesty bins
The council’s active and healthy committee this week has approved a feasibility study to provide a general report for consideration of need and community support for a farm facility on council land.
Crotlive councillor, Jarlath Tinnelly (Ind) initially sounded a sceptical note on the environmental project.
“Is this not just a fancy word for community allotments?” said Cllr Tinnelly.
However, health and wellbeing assistant director, Eoin Devlin labelled the procurement of a study as something that could lead to a landmark development for the council.
“This a bit more ambitious, though this is at feasibility stage,” replied the NMDDC officer.
Social farms can also include a multitude of education programmes, play schemes, healthy living initiatives, work and skills training, social enterprises, volunteer opportunities, environmental schemes, horticultural therapy groups and facilities for people with disabilities.
Funding for the feasibility study is already in place from the Department for Communities (DfC) with a 12 week consultation process involved for those directly affected by the proposal.
The proposal relates to an initial consultation for a project, which may include an outdoor classroom/ forest school, outdoor kitchen, poly-tunnel, allotment space, solar dome and poultry farm.
However, the consultation will at this stage only be an initial move to scope opinion from relevant departments and community stakeholders. It will not necessitate a full consultation exercise.
A live action plan is currently being put in place under several headings including: food poverty; food economics and procurement; local food movement and tackling climate change and food waste.
Four sub committees, community led, are in place to consider and report on these.
Further council approval will be sought to seek funding to progress beyond an initial consultation.
Similarly, ‘Grow Your Own’ initiatives which are widely accepted as creating a simple and cost effective way for households to improve their food economy and better health, were also in the agenda.
Approval to develop edible landscapes projects and for the council to procure horticultural contractors to supply and deliver up to five community projects with follow up support for one growing season.
Slieve Croob councillor, Andrew McMurray in his support for the Grow Your Own project raved about his own vegetable patch when he conveyed his utmost joy at eating his first harvested radish at home.
After compliments on Cllr McMurray’s green-finger abilities, Downpatrick councillor, Gareth Sharvin (SDLP) suggested an increase in the number of edible landscapes to six, so that each District Electoral Area (EA) would benefit from the natural resource.
The suggestion was supported and agreed.
Read more: Newry, Mourne and Down District Council SF rep's vote for Queen's Jubilee party funding
Read more: United Ireland subject of council working group after NMDDC
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
