Portglenone Green Gym – Growing for Health
3 June 2008
Portglenone Green Gym team are enjoying being up to their eyes in work this time of year. Starting out with a very overgrown corner of the old walled gardens within the grounds of Portglenone Monastry, the Green Gym team have transformed the site in to a small working nursery complete with polytunnel, raised beds and compost bins. It would be hard to get a more sheltered, relaxing location to undertake hands on practical work.
Their hard work over the winter and early spring months is beginning to show its rewards with their first crops of vegetables growing fast. The team are already busy putting plans into action for growing their own winter vegetables, creating herb and sensor beds and developing a wildflower meadow.
In addition to this challenge the team have undertaken the management of several pockets of local woodland. Through some of the bleakest days of winter they kept active by planting native Irish oak, ash and hazel to encourage regeneration within these areas of ancient beauty.
Directly involving local volunteers and individuals from Magherafelt Adult Centre this project is supported by Portglenone Enterprise Group, Northern Health Board and The Naturesave Trust.