Window box project aims to make seaside village blooming lovely

Window box project aims to make seaside village blooming lovely

16 May 2018

RESIDENTS in Ardglass are being urged to pick up some window boxes to make the seaside village blooming lovely this summer.

The Ardglass Development Association are giving out planted window boxes to residents in the village.

The voluntary group secured funding from Newry Mourne and Down District Council’s Live Here Love Here programme.

The window boxes have been built by the Men’s Sheds in Downpatrick and Portaferry, and are available in a range of modern and traditional outdoor colours.

Association secretary Duane Fitzsimons said: “The window boxes offer a fantastic opportunity for local residents to enhance the look of the village during the summer.

“It shows visitors we are a vibrant village and we love to live here. 

In August Ardglass Golf Club will host the Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship which will attract many people to our seaside village.”

He continued: “We thought that we could benefit many groups with this project. I was inspired by the notion that Ardglass used to have annual prizes for gardening. When I saw the Men’s Shed advertise their handmade window boxes I thought it was the perfect match.”

The Association are also keen for local businesses to get involved in the project. It is hoped that the village’s main thoroughfare will be dressed with the boxes to encourage visitors to spend time in the village and put some money into the local economy.

The window box project is the Association’s second successful Live Here Love Here scheme to receive funding.

Last year a community garden was planted at the edge of the village. The group went on to win the award for their contribution to tourism at the inaugural Live Here Love Here Awards in 2017. 

The window boxes will be available for sale from the Discover Ardglass Maritime Heritage Centre in Bath Street will be open from 10am to 1pm on Friday and Saturday.

The suggested donation for the window boxes and planters is £10. All donations for the window boxes will be used by the group for further projects.

For further information contact Duane on 07835 441933, or message the group on Facebook.