An exciting new initiative called Mayo Edible Landscape Project, funded by Healthy Ireland, aims to involve local youth and community groups in informing and shaping their local environment, tackling climate change and ensuring food sustainability.
The Edible Landscape Project, based in Westport, County Mayo, teamed up with Mayo Children and Young People’s Services Committee to develop this project on the Castlebar – Turlough Greenway and provided the expertise for delivery of workshops to the youth and community groups.
The Mayo CYPSC worked with a broad range of local groups and agencies, including Foróige Youth Projects in Castlebar and Turlough; Castlebar Tidy Towns; Le Chéile Family Resource Centre; Mayo Volunteer Centre; Mayo County Council; South West Mayo Development Company - Tús scheme and the National Museum of Country Life in Turlough; to bring a coordinated and collaborative approach to planting fruit trees and edible landscapes in two locations, at either end of the Turlough Greenway.
Blessed by good sunshine, the volunteers planted apple trees in Castlebar Town Park and developed an Edible ‘Forest Garden’ on the grounds of the National Museum of Country Life in Turlough over a number of days. They also participated in workshops where they learned about climate change and the issues it poses to our future food security, and got practical hands-on experience of growing their own food. Further workshops with the youth groups are planned for the coming months.
All the volunteers remarked that it had been a hugely enjoyable experience of practical work in the outdoors, and that they were delighted to have played a part in promoting biodiversity in their local community.
Great to see young people involved in shaping their environments and making Mayo a healthier county for all!
For more information on this healthy project contact Therese Ruane, Mayo CYPSC Co-ordinator.
Tel: 00353(0) 94 904 9097
E: therese.ruane@tusla.ie
For more on Mayo CYPSC Click here.