Footprints Community Gardens
Providing an open place to grow organic food, as well as creating opportunities for recreation, volunteering, exercise, therapy and education, our award winning community gardens and outdoor space gardens are an immensely valuable resource to women and children in Colin neighbourhood. Green flag award winning site 2021/22.
Food growing Hub
The food growing Hub supports women and families to learn how to grow, harvest and cook with fresh produce. Footprints offer a variety of activities including low-cost nutritious meal planning and cooking on a budget, to help families improve their diets and nutrition. The food grown at the hubs is used to support the delivery of these programmes. (This is the ‘Fork to Fork’ model.)
Fruit Orchard
Our orchard was developed on a derelict space and local anti-social hotspot. It is home to mature pear, plum and apple trees and a haven for biodiversity. Harvested fruit is used to supply our Daycare with fresh fruit and surplus fruit was recently used to supply our senior groups with delicious apple pies cooked by volunteers.
Outdoor classroom
The large Barn themed classroom overlooks our woodland meadow. The barn has electricity, lighting and heating provision and provides a beautiful space for learning. The classroom can be hired for events, with catering packages available
Woodland garden
Footprints woodland garden provides a space for play and relaxing for children and families. Picnic benches provide outdoor eating space and the benefit from spending a bit of time out in nature.
Sensory Garden
Children attending Footprints services can avail of our outdoor sensory garden – a safe play area with equipment designed for children to enjoy nature in a safe and tactile environment.
Outdoor soft surface play ground
Children attending footprints services can also avail of a large soft surface play area. The area provides a safe environment for kids of all ages to play, have fun and wonderful experiences outdoors.
Forest School
Footprints is a registered member of Forest School NI and we work to design our programme with families and children to bring learning outside in the natural environment. We have received a prestigious ’Green Flag Award’ for our environmental maintenance of our outside spaces and gardens including fruit orchards, wood land meadow, sensory garden and our Eco Barn. Our CHAMPS group for 5-10 years olds features forest summer camps and lots of fun out door activities.
