Tidy Randalstown scoops Lottery funding

Multi award-winning environmental charity Tidy Randalstown has learned that its bid to secure funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, has been successful.

A grant of £16,000 will enable the delivery of its “Improving Places and Spaces” project and future planning for sustainability. The project will involve the enhancement of the Tidy Randalstown’s environmental management by reducing water use through self-watering planters made of recyclable materials.

These have already been trialled in selected locations and will now be extended across the town.

The funding will also support other aspects of the charity’s work including: horticulture supplies like plants, compost, composted bark, grit, and two additional dog poo dispensers and bags to help reduce environmental damage.

There will also be help with IT support, printing costs and room hire to facilitate the work with local school children, public events and skills development for volunteers.

Interpretive boards and signage will also be installed to improve knowledge and education of the local environment whilst reducing the impact on climate change.

Responding to the news of the award, Chairperson Helen Boyd said, “Being awarded National Lottery funding is a huge achievement and great news for Randalstown, so we would like to say a big thank you to the National Lottery Community Fund and the National Lottery players for making our project possible.

“Our work aims to benefit to the whole community in terms of pride of place for residents, increased success for local business, and a stronger sense of cohesion that spans indigenous and newcomer communities.”

Helen is managing the project team and all systems are go with the project on course for completion by 30th April 2026.

Another example of Tidy Randalstown’s wider impact has come in the form of an invitation to Helen Boyd to attend the launch in Parliament of the Royal Horticultural Society’s “State of Gardening” report at the end of October.

This report is the first of its kind to establish a national baseline for gardening in the UK marking the beginning of a long-term commitment by the RHS to “track changes and trends in horticulture, supporting our ambition to make gardening accessible for everyone, everywhere, building healthier lives, stronger communities, and thriving environments”.

Helen, the only representative from Northern Ireland, will join nine other people from Great Britain selected by the RHS to attend and provide insights on community gardening.

This follows on from her participation in an RHS case study on community gardening earlier this year.

In anticipation of the Westminster event, Tidy Randalstown hosted a visit from South Antrim MP Robin Swann on Monday 6 October when he met volunteers and heard about the wide variety of projects the group has undertaken.

Mr Swann will also be attending the launch of the RHS report in Westminster.