Award-winning Swatragh in Bloom marks impact of National Lottery investment

Two years after receiving a National Lottery Community Fund grant of £18,218, Swatragh in Bloom is celebrating how the funding has helped transform the group's ambitions into a thriving community asset, while laying the foundations for an exciting new chapter in the village's continued growth.

The funding was originally awarded to support the development of essential infrastructure for the volunteer-led group, including an insulated shed with solar panels, raised growing beds and equipment needed to maintain the village's increasingly ambitious planting schemes.

While the insulated shed took longer than initially anticipated to deliver, those delays ultimately opened the door to a far greater opportunity. The shed and a new community garden had originally been earmarked for a site behind Friel's Terrace in Swatragh – where the committee started their efforts – but they soon recognised the need for a larger, more accessible location that could be enjoyed by the whole community.

Working alongside Mid Ulster District Council, Swatragh in Bloom secured a permanent base within the village's public park, relocating its plans to a more visible and inclusive setting. Today, the facility sits at the heart of the park and serves as a focal point for volunteers, residents and visitors alike. The shed provides secure storage for equipment while also offering a dedicated meeting space, while the surrounding garden has created a welcoming community asset accessible to people of all ages and abilities.

Lucy Kearney, a founder member of Swatragh in Bloom, said: "The National Lottery funding gave us far more than a building project. It gave our group confidence, credibility and a platform to grow. At the time we received the grant, we were a small group with big ambitions, and the investment showed us that others believed in what we were trying to achieve."

"Although the project has evolved over time, the end result is even better than we originally imagined. We now have a permanent home in the heart of the village, a place where people can come together, learn new skills, volunteer and take pride in their community. It has helped us attract new members, secure additional funding and continue improving Swatragh for everyone who lives, works and visits here."

The development has coincided with a period of significant growth for the organisation. What began as a small group of three volunteers has expanded into a network of around 25 regular members, supported by local businesses, community groups and residents who regularly contribute to planting projects, village tidy-ups and environmental improvement initiatives.

Over the past two years, Swatragh in Bloom has continued to build on its reputation in regional competitions. The group has maintained its position among the top-performing entrants in the Ulster in Bloom awards and was recognised with the Most Improved Village award from both the Ulster in Bloom and the Northern Ireland Amenity Council awards events, reflecting the scale of progress achieved across the village.

Judges have seen the scope of the initiative expand considerably, with the group now maintaining more than 50 hanging baskets, dozens of floral displays, new perennial planting areas, trees, picnic benches and public amenities across the village. At the same time, Swatragh in Bloom has continued to improve the sustainability of its operations through investment in longer lasting and more environmentally friendly planting infrastructure.

Beyond the awards, the project has delivered wider benefits for the community. The group's efforts have helped foster civic pride, encouraged greater volunteer participation and contributed to a cleaner, greener village environment. Members say increased community ownership has played a role in reducing littering and vandalism while helping to create welcoming public spaces for residents and visitors.

Kearney added: "We are incredibly proud of the awards and recognition we have received along the way, but what matters most is seeing local people get involved and watching the positive difference it has made to the village.

“None of it would have been possible without the support of our volunteers, residents, local businesses, funding organisations and partners who have backed us throughout the journey."

Looking to the future, Swatragh in Bloom is preparing to expand further. Additional funding streams in the form of grants from the Community Foundation Northern Ireland and Brockaghboy Wind Farm have bolstered funds and will means that moving forward, the group will seek to install two large polytunnels at the community garden, enabling the group to grow more plants, deliver workshops and engage even more residents in its activities.

The committee believes the completion of the community garden marks the beginning of a new phase in the organisation's development and will allow it to continue building on the success achieved over the last two years.

Find out more about Swatragh in Bloom by visiting the group’s Facebook page or email [email protected]