Works on historic County Roscommon walled garden planned

Conservation and rehabilitation works planned for a 200-year-old walled garden in Castlerea have been welcomed locally.

A recent Part 8 notice outlined Roscommon County Council’s intention to carry out works on the existing walls in Bennett's walled garden at the  town's Demesne, along with the installation/restoration of paths.

The proposed works include conservation and rehabilitation works to existing masonry walls; the installation of new gravel paths within the garden; the construction of a new wheelchair accessible parking area; soft landscaping and the installation of a new planter bench; and a new maintenance vehicle access route.

An orchard had been in existence since the 1800s at the 200-year-old walled garden, which is the last surviving part of the old Sandford Estate.

Earlier this century, a local man Foley Bennett ran a successful business from the garden selling fruit and flowers. The council eventually acquired the site.

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Paschal Fitzmaurice said the Part 8 development was an important step in the process of securing funding.

“I recognised the potential of the place - it was like a secret garden and people had forgotten about it. We carried out a project where 160 apple trees were planted in it through the Castlerea Community Employment scheme and Castlerea Tidy Towns. Then I asked the council to come on board and it did from an amenity point of view,” he explained.