By Amy Pollock
A RE-IMAGING project will see new housing in Millisle transformed with a vibrant mural in a bid to enhance the village visually and environmentally.
The two currently blank walls, located in the new Ark Housing development on Ballymacruise Drive, will soon be turned into a ‘living wall’, a mural depicting a gardenscape complete with real planters to increase aesthetic appeal, foster community engagement and promote sustainability.
The project was brought forward by Millisle and District Community Association through the Supporting Communities interagency programme in collaboration with Ark Housing and Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Graffiti artists Blaze FX will also be delivering the project with recommendations and hands-on support from residents, including the Millisle Men’s Shed group.
Jo Scott, chair of Millisle and District Community Association, said the idea of re-imaging across the village has been in the works for about six months.
She said following a one-off incident of graffiti on the wall in question, the decision was made to speed up the first of several re-imaging projects.
“There was graffiti painted on the walls of the new development, and everybody passing through the village and living in the village could see it. There had been a lot of complaints to the Community Association about it.
“So we stepped in very quickly, and Ark sent their contractors out to paint over the graffiti, but that is what made us want to bring this initial re-imaging project forward,” she said.
In recent months, Millisle and District Community Association have held open consultations with residents to allow them to share their ideas and feedback to contribute to the final design.
“Ark was very keen on the living wall idea, so we presented this to the community and explained that the idea of a living wall is to provide foliage and planting for butterflies, bees and other insects to thrive and to brighten up the space.
“So people kept saying because it focuses on insects and animals, let’s make a garden scene,” said Jo.
After briefing Blaze FX, a community drop-in event was held at the start of August for the artists to showcase their drafts to those involved.
“We had a representative from Ulster Wildlife there, as well as Ark Housing, Supporting Communities, local residents, and we even had a couple of residents from the actual development itself, whose wall it’s going to be,” she said.
“So what we have agreed with the artists and our Men Shed group is that they are going to make a window and add planting boxes that they actually put on the wall, and then the community will take responsibility for planting and watering and things like that.
“And the idea as well is that some of the residents in the village will be able to add wee touches to it – maybe fill in a plant leaf or do a bit of painting so that the residents themselves can take ownership of it too, which would be really good.”
With the design still to be finalised, Jo hopes that the mural will be installed by September, with more re-imaging projects planned for other parts of Millisle.
“We’ve at least another two in our mind. One is a blank wall that’s down beside the beach that we’re hoping to do, and the other one would be at Masonic Avenue where there was a beautiful piece of artwork that one of our residents designed. She sadly passed away quite a few years ago, and what we want to do now is restore it back to its original.
“So there would be three, possibly four in total. So we have lots planned,” she said.
