Public meeting on the future of Mountbellew Walled Garden project

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Galway Daily news Public consultation meeting on Mountbellew Walled Garden project

The Mountbellew Heritage and Tourism Network are holding a public consultation meeting tomorrow on the future of their Walled Garden Project.

Last summer the group secured funding assistance from the Heritage Council of Ireland to advance the Walled Garden Project.

This was used to hire the services of world-renowned garden designer, Finola Reid who came up with a list of recommendations after a visit to the site.

Finola Reid discusses historical maps with group memebers. Photo: David Walsh

The Heritage and Tourism Network will be presenting her report at a public meeting at the Pastoral Centre in Mountbellew on Friday, January 11 at 8pm.

A number of expert speakers will discuss the achievements of the Walled Garden project thus far, and what challenges lie ahead.

After the presentation there will be an open Q&A session for people to get their own input.

Refreshments will be served at the meeting.

The Mountbellew Heritage and Tourism Network is a non-profit run by volunteers with a mission statement to: “research, conserve and enhance the natural and built heritage of Mountbellew and its environs, for the benefit of the area.”

It promotes and helps with projects like the Forge Museum, a museum of local historical items in the original blacksmith’s forge on the Bellew estate.

Or the man-made lake created by the Bellew Family, a popular destination for anglers and wildlife including countless swans and thousands of Starlings in Autumn.

The Walled Garden project involves developing the walled in and adjoining woodlands on a 4.2 acre site at the former Bellew estate.

“As this project will be of huge benefit to the local community, both from a visitor attraction and employment opportunities the group would like an all-inclusive overview from people residing in this area, so please show your support,” the group said.