Merry Mountain

The applicant have developed a gardening club ‘Merry Mountain’ in the grounds of St Conor’s Primary School where grandparents, parents, carers and wider community members are building practical gardening experience and building social connections. The project will provide funding for a polytunnel, potting shed and gardening resources to enable the club to continue during winter months.
The group are primarily grandparents and local older people who meet to garden together during the school day. The members garden together and with the children, however when the weather gets cold they are currently limited in what they can do.
The applicant has reported many health benefits of gardening with research showing significant reductions in depression and anxiety. In addition, gardening can also help maintain independence and a social network which will be a positive impact for many of the members who previous to the gardening club would often drop their grandchildren to school and have no where to go.

The project will allow the participants to garden on a larger scale, regardless of weather, providing produce for the whole community.
In addition, the project will demonstrate sustainability and energy efficiency to the children through reducing food waste, composting and harnessing rain water for a variety of uses.