Young families got their hands dirty at a community gardening event at Oxford Island, where children hunted for bugs, dug for potatoes and harvested vegetables to take home.
A group of 40 young children, parents and carers attended the Family Gardening Workshop in the Natural World Products No-Dig Garden at Kinnego Bushcraft Centre. The event took place recently and was reported by the Ulster Gazette on Thursday, 13 August 2026.
What happened at the Oxford Island workshop?
The workshop was hosted by the Natural World Products Community Outreach Team in partnership with Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council. It formed part of a programme of community events held throughout the year at the vegetable garden.
The sessions are designed to demonstrate the benefits of using peat-free compost. Natural World Products says it transforms household food and garden waste into peat-free compost, with the garden providing a practical setting for environmental education and growing activities.
Children and their accompanying adults took part in a range of activities, including a ‘mini-beast hunt’ in the pollinator garden and making wildflower seed balls. They also harvested vegetables to bring home, played the ‘Spud in the Mud’ game and sampled tomatoes, cucumbers and homemade bread.
The vegetable garden was created at the Bushcraft Centre nearly three years ago as an educational resource. Through its community outreach programme, Natural World Products says it offers hands-on gardening experiences for people of all ages and abilities, with the aim of encouraging healthier lifestyles and a stronger connection with nature.
Strong demand from local families
Sharon McMaster, Community Growing and Outreach Manager with Natural World Products, said the response showed the level of interest in growing food at home and in accessible horticultural activities.
“At Natural World Products, we transform household food and garden waste into high-quality peat-free compost, helping communities across Northern Ireland grow more sustainably.
“We created the vegetable garden at the Bushcraft Centre nearly three years ago, as an educational resource. Through our community outreach programme, we provide engaging environmental education and hands-on gardening experiences for people of all ages and abilities, encouraging healthier lifestyles and a greater connection with nature.
“Our recent Family Gardening Workshop was a huge success. We could have filled it three times over, which just demonstrates the huge interest in ‘grow your own’ and the demand for accessible community horticultural workshops.”
Fiona Fry attended with her two-year-old son, James. She said the workshop gave families the chance to take part in sensory activities outdoors, meet other families and burn off energy while exploring the garden.
“James had such a great day at the workshop, there was plenty to do and he absolutely loved running about finding bugs in the garden and digging for spuds! So many sensory activities and great to be burning off energy outdoors. It was also a great opportunity to meet and socialise with other families.”
Autumn workshops planned
More horticultural workshops are due to take place this autumn at the Natural World Products No-Dig Garden. Details will be released through the organisation’s community website at naturalworldproducts.com/our-community.
Further information about New Leaf Compost is available at newleafcompost.com. Information about Kinnego Bushcraft Centre is available through Get Active ABC.
