Stormont Estate Allotments 18 May 2012
Minister Wilson launches the Stormont Estate Workplace Allotments project
Finance Minister
Sammy Wilson today launched a workplace allotment project for Northern Ireland
Civil Service (NICS) staff based within the Stormont Estate.
The Allotment project
is aimed at providing NICS staff based within the Stormont Estate the
opportunity to participate in a healthy, outdoor, recreational activity during
their own time. Whilst this is being launched initially as a pilot exercise it
is hoped that further opportunities will be developed across other public
sector workplaces.
Speaking at the
launch Sammy Wilson said: “I welcome this opportunity to launch the
allotment project today. We are the first work place allotment in Northern
Ireland which is an achievement in itself and also coincides with the Programme
for Government’s strategic priorities for 2011–2015 on improving health and
well–being.
“As a keen gardener
myself, I can think of no better way to reduce stress levels from a working day
than to spending some time outdoors on the allotment. Not only does it provide
physical exercise, it also can give a sense of productivity and generate
satisfaction when the end results are achieved by growing your own food.
“I would also like to
thank the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) and staff
within my department for their contribution in bringing this project to
fruition. I look forward to seeing the benefits of this scheme and have no
doubt that this will contribute to the health and wellbeing to staff which is
essential to enable people to reach their full potential.”
Director of the NICS
Occupational Health Service, Professor Ken Addley also welcomed the initiative:
“This unique project allows staff to get away from their desks during their
lunch, after work or at weekends and to benefit from the physical activity
involved. They can also benefit from the outdoor environment, growing fresh
food, socialising with colleagues who share a similar interest and for some,
learning new skills. In short, the allotment project offers staff a real
opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing.”
Emma McGuigan, from
FCFCG had this to say: “The Stormont Estate Allotment project is an innovative
way of employers contributing to the wellbeing of their workforce. The Northern
Ireland Civil Service is the first employer in Northern Ireland to participate
in a work place allotment project, and I
hope their participation encourages other businesses to consider rolling out
this initiative to their employees.
“I would like to
thank the Minister and the Stormont Estate team for all their work in taking
this project forward. Minister Wilson has been very supportive from our first
meeting back in February and throughout the process. Without his commitment and
approval we wouldn’t have this opportunity to bring this project to life.”
25 individual plots
and one community garden training plot have been created for staff at the
Stormont Estate. The plots are about 40sqm in size, will be available for the
production of fresh fruit and vegetables and will be accessible throughout the
week into the evenings, all year round.
