Ballygowan garden project gets huge boost from expert

Ballygowan garden project gets huge boost from expert

6 November 2013

THE founder member of the Incredible Edibles organisation was in Ballygowan recently.

Pam Warhurst was at the village hall for an event organised by the Ballygowan District Community Association which is planning to launch its own fruit and vegetable growing project for local residents.

The guest speaker gave a history of the community vegetable, herb and fruit growing project in Todmorden, a market town in West Yorkshire, with a population around the size of Comber.

Pam explained how people in Todmordon started growing their own vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers on waste ground, grass verges, along the river bank, at the train station and in boxes on the pavement.

She said teams of volunteers maintain, prune, weed and care for the produce that can be picked and plucked by the local community for their own use.

Pam revealed the scheme has expanded to include beekeeping, egg production, jam and bread making, horticulture and food training courses and a twice weekly farmers’ market.

The guest speaker explained 50 per cent of residents who live in Todmordon are involved in growing their own food and many have started up their own food related businesses.

Pam commended the Ballygowan group for starting its own vegetable and fruit growing project, suggesting that “once the momentum gets going, there is no end to what can be achieved.”

Community group chairman, Sean Hughes, said the organisation was thrilled Pam accepted the invitation to visit Ballygowan and speak to local people.

“We took her to Comber Road Park to show her where we had planted apple, pear and plum trees, along with some raspberry bushes earlier this year with the help of Ards Council,” he said.

Sean added: “After listening to Pam’s story we have been inspired to take things further and would like to build raised beds to plant vegetables. If anyone is interested in joining us, please contact us through our website www.ballygowan.org.uk.”

Councillor Deborah Girvan met Pam several years ago and was impressed with how a community vegetable growing project had been so successful in not only bringing people together, but how Incredible Edibles had regenerated Todmorton and created employment in the area.

She added: “I kept in touch with Pam and was delighted she accepted the invitation to come and speak to local people. Ballygowan Community Association members did a marvellous job in organising the event and attracting so many people to hear this truly inspirational story.”