Council urges you to get into ‘Muddy Boots’

Muddy Boots is a programme which brings edible horticulture to life and teaches people of all ages how to grow their own fruit and vegetables. Under normal circumstances, this programme would be delivered in a wide range of settings including schools and care homes. However, due to COVID-19, the programme has now been translated into a free online version, enabling residents right across the Borough to access it at a time that suits them. Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Jim Montgomery said; “Our Muddy Boots programme can bring many benefits to our health and wellbeing, including improved diet and an increase in physical activity. Growing and harvesting your own food can also bring a huge sense of achievement and it’s a fantastic activity to get the whole family involved in. This new online version, which includes lots of support materials, provides the knowledge and skills needed to set up and establish a fruit and vegetable growing experience right ‘on your patch’, regardless of available outdoor space. With 15 bespoke instructional videos, the programme provides huge flexibility in growing choices to suit every need.” If you are a resident in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough and would like to get involved, you can register online at www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/muddyboots The first 150 registrations will receive a complimentary Salad Starter Growing Kit which includes compost, seeds and growing trays.