A salute to community gardens — here are some superb ones

Knocknagree, Knocknaheeny's NICHE community garden and the UCC garden at College Road are great examples of the excellent environmenal work achieved by people coming together

Top left: Children from the Knocknaheeny/Hollyhill Family Centre creche enjoying some treats at the launch of the Nash's Boreen Nature Trail map and booklet at the Community Garden. Right: UCC Community Garden; bottom left: Knocknagree Fairfield Tidy Towns

The hilltop village of Knocknagree, County Cork, was once best-known for its monthly fair, attracting cattle dealers from around the country.

As fairs gradually gave way to livestock marts, several decades ago, the fair green, around which the village is built, fell into disuse and neglect. Eventually seeing its potential, local people came together to create what is now an oasis of beauty in the centre of Knocknagree.