Glebe House to launch community gardening and environment project
Glebe House in Kilclief, owned and operated by Harmony Community Trust, a registered charity, is launching a new community gardening and environment initiative.
The Seedbed project is intended to turn some of the land at Glebe House into a social space where people can come together to grow food and flowers and preserve and increase biodiversity in the area.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the project, Glebe House Director Andrew McCracken said: “Since it was opened in 1975, Glebe House has always been at the service of communities.
“The Seedbed will be a new asset, both for the local community and for everyone associated with Glebe House including the participants in our programmes for children, young people and adults.
“We’re very excited to be embarking on this venture. The idea first came from one of our programme participants and we’re now ready to share it.
“At this stage we have a blank canvas in the form of a big, open field. How it unfolds and develops will be determined to a large extent by the local community.
“What we want to do with the Seedbed is give people opportunities to reconnect with the process of growing food and flowers; we want to develop sustainable systems, nurture our land, and enhance biodiversity in Lecale.
“We’re going to build a welcoming, creative social gardening space where people can reconnect to nature and each other.
“We’re opening up the land at Glebe House to enable people to get involved in organic gardening, to help conserve our environment, and, while we’re at it, let friendships blossom.
“Community engagement is at the heart of the Seedbed idea. This launch is our first organised step to inform and involve both the local community and anyone from further afield who wants to get involved.
“Everyone is welcome to come along to the launch and help shape this new feature. We will provide the tea, coffee and biscuits. Just bring your ideas and your passion.
“Anyone who would like to come but can’t make can get in touch with Glebe House anytime by phone, email or in person.
“We are grateful to The Co-op Foundation for financial and other assistance under the Cultivating Community Farming programme; to the AXA Parks Fund, and to PowerNI for their financial support.”
On behalf of Community Foundation NI, Grants Director Orla Black said: “The Community Foundation NI are delighted with the awarding of this funding for the Seedbed project at Glebe House, part of AXA Parks Fund, an initiative to support sustainable, community-led projects creating or improving green spaces.
“This project will develop a creative, social gardening space for the local community, reconnecting with growing food and flowers, nurturing land and enhancing biodiversity.
“The funding provided through the AXA Parks Fund will preserve and enhance local environments and improve the health and wellbeing of communities.”
The launch will be at Glebe House on Saturday 12th November, from 11 o’clock until 1 o’clock.
The address is 23 Bishopscourt Road, Kilclief, Strangford, BT30 7NZ.
Glebe House can be contacted on 4488 1374, or at:
Glebe House is a cross-community residential and activity centre, established in 1975, which runs programmes for children, young people and adults. It is set in 16 acres next to Kilclief village.
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The Seedbed will be a new feature at Glebe House. To develop it Harmony Community Trust has secured funding from the Cultivating Community Farming programme funded by The Co-op Foundation; the Axa Parks Fund, through Community Foundation NI, and PowerNI.
