Reconnecting with nature and community in Ballymun
At GAP, we work with people of all walks of life, to empower them to act for a better future. Sometimes, that action begins simply: spending time outdoors, learning new skills and connecting with others in a supportive space.
During Recovery Month 2025, GAP Ireland delivered ‘Growing for Recovery‘, a four-week workshop series at the GLAS Community Garden in Ballymun. Co-funded by Dublin Northwest Partnership and the Ballymun Local Drugs Task Force, the programme supported people affected by addiction, their families, and anyone seeking to improve wellbeing through nature-based learning and community engagement.
The workshops created a safe, inclusive space where participants could reconnect with nature, rediscover purpose, and build confidence through hands-on gardening. Each week combined practical skills with wellbeing-focused activities, from learning to grow vegetables and fruits, to exploring the healing potential of wild herbs in natural skincare workshops. The flexible, hands-on approach allowed participants to engage in ways that suited their interests while fostering connection and shared learning.
Participants reported feeling calm, supported and inspired, and said they had gained practical gardening skills and a sense of ownership over the garden space.
Many highlighted the opportunity to learn alongside others and the freedom to return to the garden at any time, reinforcing the GLAS Community Garden as an open, empowering hub for learning, inclusion, and wellbeing.
Dublin City Council and local partners expressed strong interest in repeating and expanding the programme, reflecting its value as a model for community-driven recovery and environmental engagement.
Growing for Recovery illustrates the power of shared green spaces to bring people together, promote resilience, and inspire positive change.
Using the experience of this programme, GAP Ireland aims to continue creating opportunities where people of all backgrounds can connect, learn and take action for a better future, one garden, one workshop and one step at a time.
