Galway City has a number of Community Gardens and welcomes proposals for new gardens.
Community gardens have a focus on communal gardening and are open to residents of a defined area. A Community Garden therefore is a single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people.
Merlin Woods Community Garden
While allotments are somewhat common in Ireland, Community gardens are not and historically have developed as community-managed projects in response to a lack of green space in urban areas in Britain, Canada and the United States. This tradition typically involves the cleaning up of abandoned vacant spaces and turning them into productive gardens.
For our part, Galway City Council will work with interested groups to assist the development of community gardens and locate suitable sites within the city.
Ballinfoile Community Garden
Community Garden supporters would maintain that in order for the gardens to be tended and developed and maintained to a high standard, it is crucial that the volunteers live in the community where they have easy access to the garden.
While food production is central to many Community Gardens, not all have vegetables as a main focus. Restoration of natural areas and planting ‘flower’ gardens can be open for consideration, as can ‘art’ gardens. Gardens could have several different planting elements, such as small orchards, herbs or to attract butterflies.
There are currently Community Gardens located in the following areas in Galway City:
- Ballinfoile
- Ballybane
- Merlin Woods
- Westside
- Salthill
- Ballyloughane
Ballyloughane Community Garden
Developing a Community Garden
If you are a member of a community group who would be interested in developing a garden, you will first require the agreement of the landowner – for public lands in Galway City, the landlord is likely to be Galway City Council.
Galway City Council welcomes engagement to explore the development of a Community Garden in an area of local authority land which is derelict; underused; and/or lands which are considered to be a focus for anti-social activity.
You may email your request to Parks.Department@galwaycity.ie giving the background to your group, the lands identified for development as well as a copy of your Group’s Constitution i.e. legal status
Should your request be looked favourably at this stage, you will then be required to submit clear evidence of community support e.g. a community consultation process may be required to assess neighbourhood support for the garden and evidence of registration with PPN (Public Participation Network).
At further stages of the process, the following will be required:
A garden site plan drawn up by the community group for approval by the Recreation and Amenity Department of Galway City Council. The plan must include the layout of the plots and indicate any proposed structures or fences.
A list of your group’s current Trustees along with their home addresses. If there are no Trustees in your group, it will be necessary to submit the name & home address for the persons holding the posts of Secretary & Chairperson for your group. If the group comes under the remit of a Company, then the registered address for the company should be submitted.
Evidence of insurances: Public liability for €6.5m or more and to include a specific indemnity in the name of Galway City Council. Employer’s liability, if applicable
Management responsibilities, user fees and access procedures would be agreed as part of the lease agreement. Galway City Council will support interested communities to make contact with other gardens for advice and information.
The final stage of the process will be a legal agreement between Galway City Council and the group to develop the garden at which stage the group will have to engage with their own legal advisers to seek independent advice.
It should be noted that all costs associated in the development of any land as a community garden and its operation will be borne by the group i.e. no financial support will be provided by Galway City Council.