Macroom's fairy garden is enchanting

BY EMMA CONNOLLY 

AN ENCHANTING fairy garden has opened in Macroom, thanks to a combined community effort. 

The local Tidy Towns group and Men’s Shed united to develop the magical ‘Tiny Feet’ garden which opened recently in the Riverside Park in Masseytown.

Chair of the Tidy Towns Martin Coughlan explained how the idea came about on one of their routine clean-ups when they noted the potential of the neglected park. 

The group cleaned up the park and built a new wishing well, while the Men’s Shed ‘helped the fairies’ to make the doors dotted around the park. The project was funded by the Tidy Towns and boosted by voluntary contributions, including one donation from a man in Kantucky who visits the area regularly. 

Materials were also handed in to Frankie Twomey’s Hardware and there’s a box at the entrance for further donations. Other special touches include a hugging tree, and seating to sit back and relax.

In total the garden was created in one month, showing what can be achieved when everyone works together. The  community are hoping that this will help secure a silver medal in the National Tidy Towns competition next year and have left aside a portion of the park for for biodiversity to be promoted.  

Laminated signs have been erected informing people what types of trees and shrubs to plant to help pollination with bat boxes, bird boxes, insect boxes and a bug hut.

 The park will be blessed this Saturday, September 8th at 3pm and everyone is welcome to come along.