A Limavady woman has been presented with a prestigious housing award after transforming a bleak and unused patch of land into a beautiful cross-community garden.
Martina receiving the Seamus Roddy award from HE chairperson Donald Hoodless.
Martina Forrest, Senior Housing Officer in Housing Executive’s Limavady Office, picked up the Seamus Roddy Award at HE’s annual awards for her two years of hard work on the community garden in the Glens estate in the town.
She was nominated by her manager, Pamela Mullan, for the award which is presented to an individual member of staff for their contribution to a project which enhances the physical environment.
The garden in the heart of the town is used by a number of community groups, and includes a “Sow and Grow” area, a Marie Curie daffodil garden and a tranquility garden and is used by the local cookery class, the sewing class, the mother and toddler group, the flower arranging group and the youth club.
Part of the garden has been given over to allotment growing which allows the community to grow their own produce.
They currently grow potatoes, carrots, vegetables and fruit. This produce is then used in community cookery classes and will also be harvested for the Christmas community lunch.
Martina said: “I was delighted to be involved in the community woodland garden in the Glens estate in Limavady. This has been the second successful community garden within the district.
“The garden itself now holds special memories for me, local district office staff and the community as a whole. I am delighted to have won this award and to have been recognised for all the work that was involved in designing and creating the garden.”
Local manager Pamela Mullan said: “I was delighted that Martina picked up the award which credits her work in identifying a project that would unite the community in Limavady.”
She concluded: “The garden is a testament to her dedication and persistence. It has proven to be such a worthwhile project which benefitted the wider cross-community area.”
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