Tearmann Community Garden

The Tearmann Community Garden is a sanctuary space where people may spend time feeling close to nature. The two acre site has a rockery, a dementia friendly sensory garden, a pond, orchard and wildlife areas. It also has many native Irish trees which are so much part of the the beauty and conservation of the planet.

The garden has a wheelchair friendly path and a sensory garden. There is a new water feature and many benches donated by local people. Decorative covered benches and an outdoor seating area are made of low maintenance recycled plastic. Gardeners can get ideas for their own outdoors spaces from the design of the Tearmann.

Memory is a theme of the garden and the entrance is decorated with giant photos to stimulate happy memories. There is a moody black and white scene of Baltinglass in the 1950s as well as moments from local history. A hand drawn map of the district has been enlarged to show the villages and towns of West Wicklow. A carved wooden arch with the name tearmann in traditional Irish lettering makes the space easy to find.

Many of the plants have been chosen to bring back pleasant memories. There are familiar colourful flowers as well as scented herbs.

Peace and contemplation are encouraged and decorated slates are dotted around the garden with phrases that celebrate nature and creation. The slates were hand painted by a local artist. Two sculptures were carved from local wood by sculptor Eamonn Doyle. Touch Wood is a wooden head that visitors feel compelled to touch. Another unnamed sculpture wordlessly encourages people to speak their thoughts.

The garden is a working space where vegetables are grown organically and sold. It is located behind the Catholic Church, close to a Men’s Shed, the Cozy Crafters area and an equestrian centre, very much a community space where everyone is welcome. The garden is always open even if the gate to the area is shut.