Heritage without Walls: the Fota Frame Yard Volunteer Project
The estate of Fota, or Foaty (meaning "warm earth"), to the East of Cork city, Ireland, is a historic country house with an internationally-famed Arboretum, Gardens, Orchard and Frame Yard, since 2008 owned by an independent charity, the Irish Heritage Trust. Meticulous ...
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Project details
| Title: | Heritage without Walls: the Fota Frame Yard Volunteer Project |
|---|---|
| Entr. year: | 2015 |
| Result: | Award |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Town: | Fota |
| Category type: | Awareness-raising |
| Architect / Proj.leader: | Education, Training and Awareness-Raising , Michael Martin (Fota House Manager), Project leader |
| The Jury's citation: | "At Fota, the Jury especially appreciated the range of initiatives which stemmed from the decision to restore and re-use the Garden for future productivity and the public benefit. A huge network of local volunteers has been built up, playing their part in new horticultural and agricultural activities, which develop their own skills, produce items for sale in the short term, and provide benefit and profit to the estate as a whole. Moreover, the project stands out as an example of practical public volunteer involvement in a heritage project." |
| GPS: | 51°53'38,3"N; 8°18'23,4"W |
| Web, Links: | www.fotahouse.com |
Description:
The estate of Fota, or Foaty (meaning "warm earth"), to the East of Cork city, Ireland, is a historic country house with an internationally-famed Arboretum, Gardens, Orchard and Frame Yard, since 2008 owned by an independent charity, the Irish Heritage Trust. Meticulous restoration of the Frame Yard, which had for nearly forty years been neglected, was completed at the end of 2011 and a programme of activity commenced. With careful consideration, consultation and debate with experts and all involved with the estate, the aim of bringing this area to life through education, training, access, participation, fun and friendships was realised. The Frame Yard has once again become an engine of the estate, where teams of volunteers work with staff to cultivate plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables for use on site and for sale to the public, the profits from sales invested directly back into the Frame Yard for expansion, and towards the longer-term goals of other garden restoration projects
