Avril Roddy, a resident of Montgomery Manor, is caring for her new seedling, Oaky-Doky. She has an acorn she had found on the ground nearby. Roddy, the former nurse, cradles the seedling “like a baby.” Her caring disposition reflects her profound love for the environment and respect for nature. She sometimes delights in being outside for an hour, taking in the scents and sounds that surround her. She says the smoke-free experience has been “just amazing.”
Roddy’s zeal for gardening helps support new initiatives to enhance biodiversity in social housing builds. For Jim Duffy, her Montgomery Manor neighbor, that same environmental focus extends to the world around them. And now for her favorite part … Jack loves the gardens at Montgomery Manor. Those beautiful bird and insect sounds really get me going, sort of sweetening my outdoor experience—just wonderful. Duffy frequently asks Roddy to guide him in interpreting the different smells and sounds he experiences while traversing the garden.
Michael Topping, an environmental consultant who has worked with residents in social housing developments like Montgomery Manor, emphasizes the importance of community engagement in fostering biodiversity. “We’re just trying to add more of these pollinating species, flowering shrubs, more structure for breeding bird habitat and insect life,” Topping explains. His projects have produced these lovely raised beds at Lowry Court in Belfast. These planting beds will improve habitat for local wildlife and beautify green infrastructure spaces for residents.
Cameron Watt, chief executive of Alpha Housing, which manages the renovations, has welcomed this goal of improving biodiversity measures. He thinks that relatively small changes in practice could lead to big step changes in nature recovery throughout Northern Ireland. Watt is deeply passionate about the impact we could have on making new homes affordable. By requiring the use of native trees and shrubs and allowing wildlife corridors at the perimeter of developments, we can go a long way in helping nature bounce back all over Northern Ireland.
Roddy’s enthusiasm for gardening is palpable as she reflects on her experiences outdoors: “I love being in the fresh air, I love nature itself and I love the sunshine. To be able to plant things and see them grow, to me that’s just wonderful.” Her commitment doesn’t just encourage plant growth, but contributes to the vibrant community culture at Montgomery Manor.
