Northern Ireland

Plans to transform west Belfast waste ground in bid to tackle social isolation

Brenda Goss (second from left), with members of the Three Sisters Community Gardening Group, at the waste ground they hope to transform at Oakman Street. Also pictured are People Before Profit councillor Matt Collins (left) and Paul Dohert, (centre) an SDLP representative, who are also helping with the project
Brenda Goss (second from left), with members of the Three Sisters Community Gardening Group, at the waste ground they hope to transform at Oakman Street. Also pictured are People Before Profit councillor Matt Collins (left) and Paul Dohert, (centre) an SD Brenda Goss (second from left), with members of the Three Sisters Community Gardening Group, at the waste ground they hope to transform at Oakman Street. Also pictured are People Before Profit councillor Matt Collins (left) and Paul Dohert, (centre) an SDLP representative, who are also helping with the project

A newly-formed gardening group is hoping to transform a piece of waste ground in west Belfast in a bid to promote good mental health and address social isolation.

The Three Sisters Community Gardening Group, made up of residents from the Oakman and Cavendish Street areas off the Falls Road, have come together to combine their skills in the hope of helping others.

They have identified a piece of waste ground at the top of Oakman Street, which for years has been used as a dumping ground and has fallen victim to vandalism.

The group has now cleared the plot and in the coming weeks, work will begin to transform the land.

Belfast City Council has offered to donate compost and volunteers from Plough Men's Shed have offered their skills to help build raised beds, while JP Corry will gift the group all the materials they need.

Other groups have also offered to donate plants and there are plans for fruit trees at the site.

Brenda Goss, chair of the Three Sisters group, said some residents had "suffered badly during the lockdown and we wanted to build a space where they can safely, socially distance".

"The response from local residents has been massive," she said.

"We are hoping to apply for all possible funding and will attempt to roll the project out.

"We are going to hopefully address mental health and isolation through gardening and we want to deal with isolation within the community and also want to create as many green spaces".

For further information contact the group on Facebook.