Community garden is nominated for award 

A NORTH inner city community garden has been nominated for a prestigious Pride of Place Award, a competition that acknowledges the good work that communities are doing all over the island of Ireland.

A leafy, hidden gem just off the North Strand Road, Mud Island Community Garden is the inspirational creation of a completely volunteer-led local community group. 

The garden came to be following a campaign in 2009 by local residents to persuade Dublin City Council to allow them to develop the former derelict site. 

Permission was granted two years later and since then the garden has bloomed and proven a haven for locals.

The half-acre site contains an array of raised beds filled with seasonal vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers.  

Charming additions added though the years include a communal pizza oven, fish pond, and revamped caravan which has been colourfully decorated. 

As well as providing homegrown fruit and vegetables, the garden also creates a cleaner environment with better air quality and is a great source of community pride and social interaction.

Regular functions are held in the garden throughout the year including an annual Open Day every June and a fantastic Halloween party.  

They also have an active arts collective holding workshops and have regularly participated in the Trailer Park at Electric Picnic as Plastic Fantastic. They have extended their reach into the community placing planters filled with flowers in litter black spots and generally engaging in activities to promote pride in their area.

As a completely volunteer led group, the Mud Island community is proud of its success in improving their neighbourhood.

The garden is worked collectively with all produce shared and new members are always welcome. The garden has received grants from several sources including Dublin City Council, Croke Park Community Fund, Community Growers Fund, IFSC Dublin Inner City Trust and Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund.

The Pride of Place Award winners will be announced at a ceremony in December. The competition focus is about people coming together to shape, change and improve daily lives in their communities.

Dublin City Council’s other nominations for the awards are: Grange Woodbine Residents’ Association in Raheny, D11 Transformers, Dublin 11, Back of the Pipes Residents’ Association, Dublin 8 and I love Terenure 2030, Dublin 6.