Brendan and I moved to Belfast three years ago. We previously lived in a large house in Portaferry with sea views and large gardens. We collected many plants over the years that moved with us whenever we moved.
Our children wanted us to be near them. We downsized to a terrace house in Belfast with a small garden at the front, a small yard at the back opening onto a back alley. Where will all our pot plants go?
We gave some of our plants to our children for their gardens in Belfast. We kept our favourite ones, Rhododendrons and roses. Brendan had a new space to place our plant pots.
One Saturday morning after we settled in we heard the noise of a power hose from the back alley. A lady, Elizabeth Pantridge was transforming a neglected space into a clean pathway. So began the restoration of our back alley.
A year later a lady, Noelle, bought and restored a house two doors up from us. She added more plants to the outdoor space. Other neighbours got interested. This summer I added hanging baskets along the back wall.
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Isaiah 35 v 1
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Isaiah 58 v 12

People are attracted to walk down our alley and admire the new green space. We had an event in May inviting neighbours for a coffee morning.
Noelle suggested we apply to the Belfast Bloom Competation. Today we won the Best Community Street award for South Belfast.




