Randalstown's Viaduct Community Garden

The Randalstown community had a vision for a former railway viaduct to become Northern Ireland’s answer to New York’s ‘The High Line’ – with the help of an RHS grant that vision has become a reality

A former railway viaduct spanning the River Maine in Randalstown, Northern Ireland has become the location of one of four new RHS Community Gardens. Part of a well-used recreational pathway, the garden was designed by leading Northern Irish garden designer Johnny Knox, and funded by the RHS Community Grant Scheme.

The new Viaduct Community Garden was unveiled on RHS Garden Day (Monday, 2 May 2022), kick-starting National Gardening Week celebrations. Find out how the space was transformed, hear the story behind the design and see the community come together to celebrate their brilliant new green space.

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A magnificent community project

A restorative space where people can relax and come together, the garden brings year-round interest, extended bee corridors, seeds and berries for birds, and shelter for hibernating species. The overall design nods to the history of the site with the likes of brass arches emulating the grandeur associated with the viaduct’s era of transport.

“People’s wellbeing will benefit from the sights, scents and sounds which greet them in this suspended garden.”

Helen Boyd, Chair of the Tidy Randalstown Environmental Group

The first of its kind on the island of Ireland

Following an application by volunteers at Tidy Randalstown Environmental Group, the former railway viaduct was announced as the chosen location for the RHS Community Garden by TV presenter and keen gardener Gloria Hunniford on the BBC’s The One Show. Going forwards, the space will be maintained by an intergenerational team, connecting more people with the feel-good power of plants.

The locations of the other new community gardens receiving RHS Community Grant Scheme funding are: Huntingdon (England), Paisley (Scotland) and Blaenavon (Wales). All four projects receive an additional £15,000
over the course of three years to support the groups’ work within their communities.

National Gardening Week

National Gardening Week

Discover the nation's biggest celebration of gardening

National Gardening Week
RHS Garden Day

RHS Garden Day

Get out and garden on RHS Garden Day

RHS Garden Day

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.