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Social farming and gardening has transformed community work in Northern Ireland over the past 15 years, and is capable of much more.
Coronavirus COVID -19
If you are in need of support and guidance around any issues related to Covid 19 then we recommend referring to this resource by the NICVA, who have created a dedicated Covid -19 hub page on their website below.
The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action
If there is anything not covered in this that you seek support with please email patricia@farmgarden.org.uk.
For our full Coronavirus COVID - 19 support page click here
SF&G is uniquely placed to gather evidence about what works and what is needed. We have had a staff member in Northern Ireland since 2011, and since then we have worked with many of the new and established community growing projects in Northern Ireland. During the past five years we have:
- Focused on capacity-building by advising allotment and community garden groups, organising training and facilitating visits to established sites.
- Convened the biannual Northern Ireland Allotment and Community Garden Forum, bringing together a range of stakeholders from Northern Ireland and the South - councils and local authorities, government agencies, NGOs and allotment and community garden representatives - to meet, share ideas, get to know each other and find out what's going on around the country
- Stimulated cooperation between statutory agencies and the community sector, for example through the workplace allotments at Parliament buildings
Growing Resilience: Digging Deeper
Our 'Growing Resilience: Digging Deeper' project aims to increase social capital and resilience in the community growing sector. On this page you can find the newly published report on 'The Resilience of the Community Growing Sector in Northern Ireland' written during lockdown.
Outdoor Wellbeing Network for NI
The Outdoor Wellbeing Network for Northern Ireland helps to develop and promote green care in Northern Ireland.
On this page
- See below for a map view or list of Social Farms & Gardens members in this Northern Ireland, as well as local news, events and case studies. There are also lots of useful information resources available for social farmers, gardeners and growers on our Resources page.
- If you are looking for members that offer commissioned health, social care or special education services (such as care farms), please follow this link.
You can also get useful information via the SF&G Northern Ireland Facebook page: 
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
| City / County | |
|---|---|
| Small Furries Therapy and Boarding | Ballynahinch |
| St James Forum Farm | Belfast |
| Stormont Workplace Allotments | Belfast |
| Strathroy Community Garden & Shed | Omagh |
| Suffolk Community Garden | Belfast |
| The Brain Injury Foundation | Newry |
| The Brickie | Belfast |
| The Cabbage Patchers | Newry |
| The Foyle Down Syndrome Trust | Londonderry |
| The Friends of Antrim Castle Gardens | Antrim |
| The Koram Centre | Strabane |
| The Quarries Farm | Bangor |
Get Involved
If you want to know more about our work in Northern Ireland or want information as a community grower yourself, you can contact:
Northern Ireland Development Coordinator - Patricia Wallace patricia@farmgarden.org.uk
Growing Resilience Project Officer - Miriam Turley miriam@farmgarden.org.uk
Growing Resilience Project Coordinator (Derry/Londonderry) - Conor O'Kane conor@farmgarden.org.uk
We work with Community Gardens Ireland (CG Ireland), a voluntary organisation that was created in 2011 as an online support network. Visit their website.
Latest news
Over the past few weeks our COVID-19 member impact survey has already collected a huge number of responses from our members across Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. The responses received so far indicate that across the country members have been profoundly impacted by the lockdown and social...
Upcoming events
Trustee liability can be a barrier to individuals joining charity boards and can also be a worry for individuals on a board. This is especially so during times of unprecedented crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic.
SF&G have launched a series of online webinars designed to help members tackle the most pressing concerns arising from this crisis, and to share best practice and inspiration from around the country. Themes are based on what members told us were the most immediate and challenging issues.
A series of specially themed webinars, network meetings, training courses and launch events delivered by the Growing Care Farming project, part of the Government Programme for Children & Nature programme.
Useful Case Studies
A 4.5 acre former mill site, now a community garden and wider biopark, this project is a great example of growing community and environmental help by using permaculture practices and building good relationships with local council.
Lackan Cottage Farm is a permaculture smallholding near the beautiful Mourne Mountains in Co. Down run by Steve and Claire Golemboski-Byrne, and has been running for 2 years.
Castlecaufield Horticultural Society are more well known for hosting their popular annual horticultural show, running the walled garden, and their lively street planting which makes the village such a lovely place to visit. In recent weeks (March 2020...