Community garden room opens in Hollyhill

A new garden room, which aims to “help nurture health and wellbeing in the area”, has opened in Hollyhill.

The garden room is located on the site of the NICHE Health Project community garden in Hollyhill. The announcement from Cork City Council said that this garden “already supports place-based, community-led approaches to health and wellbeing”.

It will support a wide range of community-led initiatives, including health promotion programmes and talks, wellbeing activities like yoga, community meetings and local supports, ensuring services and activities are accessible within the community.

The facility is part of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Fergal Dennehy, said that the garden room “is a strong example of how Sláintecare principles can be delivered at a local level”.

“By providing accessible, community-based spaces, we are supporting prevention, inclusion and wellbeing while empowering communities to shape their own health outcomes,” he said.

The announcement said that the entire space is carbon neutral.

“Its timber structure comes from renewable sources and is insulated with natural cellulose made in Cork, helping to keep the space comfortable and healthy,” it said.

It highlighted the charred larch cladding that it said protects the building, while allowing it to breathe and helps it blend into the garden setting.

It also said that it features marmoleum flooring - a natural material that it said adds warmth and durability.

Jane O’Flynn, Manager of NICHE, said the room was designed with environmental sustainability in mind.

“This garden room allows us to deliver community-led health and wellbeing programmes in a comfortable, durable space that will serve the community for years to come,” she said.

Tanya O’Sullivan, Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Development Officer, said the garden room addresses the wider factors that influence health.

“By creating a welcoming, local space that supports connection, learning and wellbeing, we are helping to reduce inequalities and support long-term positive health outcomes,” she said.

She said the feedback from residents was a key indicator of success.

The garden room project received funding from the Social Economic Environmental Plan (SEEP).

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.