South West College recently unveiled a new Walled Garden at its Erne Campus which was completed as part of a project delivered in collaboration with the Enniskillen Workhouse. Workhouse Connect was a transformative initiative designed to engage students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and the wider local community in heritage-related skills and activities.

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Workhouse Connect project ran from February 2024 to March 2025 and focused on enhancing the understanding of local heritage among community members living adjacent to the college and SEN students attending the campus. The project emphasised traditional skills and environmental sustainability and a series of workshop and practical activities were delivered at both the Erne Campus and Enniskillen Workhouse.

Project participants developed heritage skills such as stone masonry and willow-weaving and improved their interpersonal skills with each of the students talking publicly about their experiences ahead of the official unveiling of the walled garden on Monday 14th May.

At the event, Project Manager, Teresa Kane spoke of the transformative power of the project and the positive impact it has had on the participants over the past year. The Walled Garden was launched by Mukesh Sharma MBE and Angela Lavin from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Speaking in praise of the project Mukesh Sharma said:

“We’re committed to supporting heritage projects that ensure everyone has access to learn, develop new skills and explore heritage. Throughout this project, the enthusiasm of students and project leaders to learn about and engage with important heritage relating to their place was evident. As a result, participants have achieved new, built and natural heritage skills and developed friendships.

It was wonderful to see participants, their families and carers come together at the celebration event to mark all that has been achieved by the Workhouse Connect project which was made possible thanks to National Lottery players.”

Following the symbolic cutting of a piece of ivy, Mukesh and Angela planted lilies within the walled garden, symbolising growth and renewal. A documentary film about the Walled Garden Project produced by Lana Turianska of Erika Richard Films was also premiered as part of the event.

David Taylor, Head of Social Inclusion at South West College said;

“The Workhouse Connect project has been a fulfilling and positive journey for the students and community participants over the past year. The heritage skills they have developed as a result combined with the social and interpersonal skills will open up new opportunities for the students we are very proud of their accomplishments, and we would encourage all visitors to the campus to spend some time at the Walled Garden over the Spring and Summer months as it blooms into life.”

The Walled Garden is now accessible to visitors of both the Erne Campus and Enniskillen Workhouse.