Community garden to close

A communuity garden project in Dolphin's Barn in Dublin is being forced to close up just a year after it was established. Inspired by similar projects in New York, Cork and Belfast, the garden was established in Dolphin's Barn in April 2005 on a small patch of disused land beside the Grand Canal. The land was untended and had been out of use since it was earmarked for a motorway proposal in the 1960s, but is now to be redeveloped.

The garden was established as a response to the lack of green spaces in the city, and to promote community interaction. Since then, trees, plants and vegetables have been planted and a significant amount of food has been cultivated by a number of volunteers who meet regularly to tend the garden. The project received the support of Dublin City Council and a grant of €600.

Since the Dolphin's Barn garden garden was established, other community garden projects have been set up around Dublin in Phibsboro and Stoneybatter.

In March, the gardeners were informed that they would no longer be allowed to use the land, and since then trees and equipment have been removed by builders. A number of possible alternative locations for the community garden are now being investigated.

More: www.dolphinsbarngarden.org

Chris Connolly