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Garden Structures

Chicken coop at Top of the City Garden

Chicken Coop

Year built: 2023 (fencing added 2024)

Sponsor: Community Climate Action Programme

Undoubtedly one of the biggest draws to our garden, the reinforced, fully enclosed chicken coop is an engineering marvel. Described as "a mansion" by Waterford News and Star, the "patio" attached to our coop gives our 4 egg-laying hens plenty of room to roam, scratch, and burrow.

Inside the coop, our girls are pampered with cosy spaces to sleep and lay their eggs, as well as a convenient feeder always stocked with high-quality, organic feed. We also treat our chickens with food scraps like fresh kiwi.

Pizza oven at Top of the City Garden

Pizza Oven

Year built: 2025

Sponsor: National Lottery Fund

One of the most recent additions to the garden is our stone pizza oven. Crafted by local stonemason Christy Sheehan, the pizza oven is the cherry on top of many of our public events.

In August 2025, as part of our "Behind the Garden Wall" event, we welcomed Slice Wood Fired Pizza to sling 30+ pies for a proper test run.

Event stage at Top of the City Garden

Events Stage

Year built: 2021 (roof added 2022)

Sponsor: National Lottery Fund / Community Climate Action Programme

What began as a simple covered tent has since evolved into a state-of-the-art covered events stage that's perfect for live music, dance, spoken word, and other types of performances.

One of the earliest wooden structures established at Top of the City, our stage has hosted dozens of performers over the years, from local punk bands to celebrated poets to trad icons.

Event stage at Top of the City Garden

Covered Picnic Table

Year built: 2021

Sponsor: Pat Sinnott @ SuperValu Hypercentre (Picnic Table) / Community Climate Action Programme (Green Roof)

Our covered picnic table, complete with a "green roof" covered with live sedum plants for pollinators, is a prime spot to soak up city views. The gravel ground cover underneath the shelter keeps this space tidy and accessible for picnickers. Just mind the step up!

Visit on any of our opening days and you'll almost certainly meet one of our garden members at this very table. Feel free to join them for a friendly chat about the garden, the community, or even the weather.

Event stage at Top of the City Garden

Compost Bays

Year built: 2024

Sponsor: Community Climate Action Programme

Yet another example of an original wooden structure that later got a big upgrade, our compost bays are years in the making. Completely rebuilt in 2024, the compost structure also includes a "green roof" for live pollinators. The 3 bays provide convenient storage for ready compost, brown matter, and the compost heap currently breaking down.

Our compost is reused in our own greenhouse, planters, and garden beds. This, combined with our rainwater collection basins, ensures a truly circular and eco-friendly waste system that nurtures the earth as well as our plants.

Event stage at Top of the City Garden

Swap Shed

Year built: 2023

Sponsor: Community Climate Action Programme

Our swap shed always catches the interest of our visitors. It works similarly to the "little free libraries" and "blessing boxes" you may have seen online: You're welcome to take or leave an item or two. If you're leaving something, please be sure it's in good condition and useful for others.

Currently, our swap shed is used mostly for books. You'll also find seeds inside left by our garden members; you're welcome to take some to start your own garden at home!

Raised wooden garden beds at Top of the City Garden

Raised Garden Beds

Year built: 2024

Sponsor: Community Climate Action Programme

In the 7 pairs of raised garden beds at Top of the City (for a total of 14 allotments), our bedholders are cultivating everything from strawberry and rhubarb to potatoes and carrots.

Made from timber treated with linseed oil, our beds use only 100% organic compost sourced from the local area. No fertilizers, pesticides, or other nasties allowed!

Greenhouse at Top of the City Garden

Greenhouse

Year built: 2022

Sponsor: Community Enhancement Programme via Waterford City & County Council's Local Community Development Committee (LCDC)

Every growing season, our garden members are reminded why they're called "green"houses, as our plants burst into colour and take up every bit of empty space.

We typically rotate between tomatoes and peas / beans to ensure top growing conditions in the greenhouse and prevent disease from establishing or spreading.

Event stage at Top of the City Garden

Herb Garden

Year built: 2026

Sponsor:

Another recent upgrade in the garden, the old circular herb bed that was once behind the greenhouse was removed and relocated into a sturdier stone bed along the wall.

At our 2026 meitheal, where our members come together to tidy up the garden in preparation for the opening season, we planted chives, thyme, rosemary, and other herbs, adding a fragrant and practical touch to the space.