We’ll make parts of Sligo edible with mini orchards
NATASCHA TELFORD, a member of Sligo Environmental Network, has secured funding in 2019 from The Community Foundation for Ireland for funding to develop a project called Edible Sligo.
The idea was to have freely available food growing within an urban setting of Sligo, planting fruit and nut trees in green spaces around the town, as well as vegetables and herbs in planters.
The first mini orchard has been planted at Keaveney’s Lane, Tonaphubble.
Finbarr Filan, chairperson of Sligo Tidy Towns, said: “This project showcases great co-operation between Sligo Environmental Network, Sligo Tidy Towns, Sligo County Council and, of course, the local residents’ groups working in collaboration with the Tonaphubble residents’ association.”
Gabriel Browne, secretary of
Tonaphubble residents’ association, also welcomed the completion of the planting of the apple and plum trees, whitethorn and fruiting hedges and gooseberry bushes.
He said: “There is a need for communities to act locally to help pollinators and to preserve habitats for plants and small animals and microorganisms, to protect biological diversity in our area.
“This mini orchard is the culmination of a lot of work by residents in the area, including Paul McGarry, the chairperson of Keaveney’s Lane residents’ association, Andrea Bourke, secretary of Meadowvale residents’ association, Finbarr Filan and Michael Barrett of Sligo Tidy Towns and, of course, Natascha from Sligo Environmental Network.
“We are also lucky to have the musician and photographer Eddie Lee in our neighbourhood. He has aptly captured the start of the mini orchard through his lens. This is what community is all about, people coming together to make our community better for everyone,” he said.
Natascha Telford said: “We hope to continue to work with Sligo Tidy Towns committee, community organisations and residents’ associations to develop edible food trails around Sligo, joining existing community orchards and gardens, as well as wild food available in the area.
“We want to include ideas on how to use the produce as well as information about the varieties.”
She said that with the outbreak of Covid-19 it has become abundantly clear how important outdoor spaces are for our mental health.
“The ‘foodscape’ will improve the enhancement of public spaces and develop a greater community participation. There will be social days maintaining the orchards, plus harvest days and community juicing available.
“The orchards will provide wonderful habitats for biodiversity to thrive in while also helping sequester CO2, reduce flooding risks, and will provide local, nutrient-dense food without the packaging and air miles involved,” she said.
Sligo County Council has provided a green space to continue planting fruit trees near Doorly Park. Fruit trees are also going to be planted at the Lough Gill Brewery site in Cleveragh as part of a biodiversity planting scheme.
Sligo Environmental Network says it looks forward to developing new projects to continue planting up Sligo with many edible plants and native trees for the community of Sligo to enjoy for many years to come. Patricia Gardiner from the Network said: “If you would like to work with us on getting trees planted in your community or know organisations that would be happy to have trees planted on their site, please contact us. We’d love to hear from you.”