An Tearmann – The Sanctuary Garden
Developed by students, both visiting and local with hope that more local groups will join us in this extraordinary development in the heart of Bundoran town, Co. Donegal.
The aim of the An Tearmann Sanctuary Garden project is to create a space of rest, reflection, and connection with land, nature, others and ourselves — a place where visitors can slow down, feel grounded, and engage with nature in a meaningful way, both actively and passively.
Rooted in ecology, soil and environmental sciences with a strong emphasis on social inclusion, this garden idea has originated from a deep respect for land, wildlife, and community that can be accessed by all. The garden is being currently undergoing groundworks aiming to create a safe pathway leading to specifically designed raised beds that can be used by wheelchair user whose gardening activities are still very limited not only in Ireland but abroad.
Another key feature incorporating social inclusion into the overall garden’s design is a sensory garden aiming to welcome and help children with a broad spectrum of neurological and developmental disorders such as autism. Through a thoughtful combination of plants, topography and other features, the space will gently stimulate the senses — sight, touch, smell, and sound — creating a safe, calming but engaging environment where children can explore without feeling overwhelmed.
The garden itself will be structured around natural elements, including areas representing fire, water, air, and earth. The main features include: woodland made of native Irish trees and bushes, native Irish hedgerow, wildflower meadow, small habitats for pollinating insects, birds and small mammals, edible perennials such as gooseberries, raspberries and blackberries, pond for wildlife and much more. The garden will be build using different elements and structures but it is to create one thriving ecosystem where people and nature can coexist and support each other.
In the initial phase of the project was soil testing and land survey done by Dr Agnieszka Piwowarczyk followed by a number of drafts and a final designed that was a result of collaborative work with College of DuPage. In April, the college students visited Bundoran within two days, they created a rainwater-fed pond for wildlife, supported by aquatic plants, forming a small self-sustaining ecosystem that will develop naturally over time. Some solid groundwork was also performed, the backfill material was cleared of debris in most parts, on one of the slopes the material was broken down followed by clover sowing to further stabilise the material preventing erosion.
This project not only introduces students to principles of sustainable design and environmental stewardship, but also creates a lasting space for the wider community — a place to relax, to reconnect, to discover, to feel and to simply be.
