COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

MOTION NO. 10

MOTION: Councillor J. Lahart

"That the Manager update members on progress made regarding Willbrook Park, Rathfarnham and the idea of a Community Garden."

REPORT:

A community garden is a single piece of land gardened collectively by a group of people.  The concept is particularly favoured in the United States and Canada, with a strong presence in Australia and New Zealand as well.  Community gardening is generally distinct from allotment gardening in that allotments are plots of land rented by local authorities or other public bodies to individuals for their cultivation.  The upkeep of the allotment is usually the responsibility of the individual plot holders.  The community garden movement is of more recent provenance with many such gardens built on patches of derelict land, waste ground or land owned by a local authority or a private landlord that is not being used for any purpose. A community garden is typically run by formal agreement with the landowner by people from the local community as an independent, non-profit organisation.  There are many different organisational models in use for community gardens. The majority are gardened collectively, with members of a local community working together in a communal fashion, although some models have both "common areas" with shared upkeep and individual/family plots.  Like traditional public parks, most community gardens are open to the public, and provide green space in urban areas for growing both food produce and ornamental plants, along with opportunities for social gatherings, neighbourhood improvement, education and recreation.  The key difference is that a community garden is managed and maintained with the active participation of the local community who assume direct responsibility for its planting, landscaping and upkeep themselves, rather than it being tended by a professional staff.

With regard to the area of land to the rear of Willbrook Park, the location is considered suitable in principle to the concept of a community garden. However, as community gardens are of relatively recent provenance in an Irish context, the Council is currently exploring the possible structures, legal issues and practicalities under which the idea could be progressed.