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Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden: Community Gardens Are About More Than Growing Food!

Our Muirhouse Mural Project is Complete!

October 8, 2024

(All credit and a huge thank you to Julie Howden for the fantastic photos. Images courtesy of the National Galleries of Scotland.)

It’s been an exciting year in Muirhouse, with the building and opening of its very own Neighbourhood Garden. We’ve been delivering growing workshops to the community since September 2023, which included building growing beds for local people to adopt, and we’re delighted to now have twelve households tending to their own plots. By building neighbourhood gardens like this one on council estates, we aim to create safe, colourful, and inviting spaces where locals can come together as a community to enjoy activities alongside growing and sharing food. This summer, we had the perfect opportunity to collaborate with other local organisations and young people to create something joyful in and for the space – and the result is fantastic!

The Project

While building the garden, we noted a dirty and graffitied wall in need of some TLC on the adjacent disused garages that were being renovated – a blank canvas if you will!

We chatted with Muirhouse Youth Development Group (MYDG) who highlighted that a lot of the young people they work with are creative, and so a mural project seemed a great way to engage and support young people, their families, and the wider Muirhouse community to make the garden space their own and build their connection with it for years to come.

To curate lots of ideas and bring the project to life, we needed an artist. Gillian Cullen (MYDG) got in touch with Holly Yeoman at National Galleries of Scotland (NGS). Holly is the Community Development Coordinator for The NGS Art Works project, and put us in touch with mural artist Natasha Russell. We also offered, via Volunteer Edinburgh, the opportunity for a corporate group to help us prepare the wall.

The stage was set, and so the project began!

The Painting Process

In July, volunteers from Black Circles spent a lovely sunny day scrubbing, wire brushing, and painting the wall in preparation for the mural, which gave the staff an opportunity to get out of the office into the fresh air, spend time with one another, and support a community project.

Throughout August the MYDG, NGS, and Natasha worked on designing and painting the mural, with lots of gardening skills such as seed planting learned along the way, blending creativity with outdoor education.

‘During the mural workshops, the opportunity for the group to work on creative painting work whilst spending time in the garden felt really valuable and it was lovely to see people splitting their time between watering, potato picking, vegetable tasting, and painting their designs.’

Natasha Russell, Lead Artist

The bright colours and interesting shapes of flowers and produce in the Muirhouse garden were the focus of the design, which allowed for lots of exploring. The young people also visited the Botanical Gardens, walked around the neighbourhood, and looked through the NGS’ collection of horticultural artworks for inspiration. Natasha then led several workshops with the young people to come up with the designs, which were cut out and arranged into a collage to make up the final composition.

Natasha also attended community gardening sessions to chat to participants about what they would like included in the mural. Shapes such as the allium flower buds are results of these conversations, which were a great way to involve participants in the project.

‘I loved working with the young people, staff, and wider community to gather ideas, design, and paint this mural together. It’s been great to see how the young people have taken inspiration from the garden’s plants.’

Natasha, Lead Artist

It was wonderful to see the young people spend time getting creative and curious in a natural outdoor space, working together, and developing their confidence throughout the process.

The Mural Unveiling

We welcomed residents, lead artist Natasha, local organisations and MYDG’s budding young artists to an open day in the garden on Monday 16th September, and were blessed with some final rays of summer sunshine over an afternoon of tea, cake, and activities – including fantastic botanical art workshops from artists Seamus Killick and Alexa Hare of NGS.

‘It’s been fantastic to work alongside the local young people and wider community on this project. My hope is that the participants have built a long-lasting connection with the garden and continue to make the space their own. The project has shown that community gardens are not just for horticulture but can be spaces for all kinds of activities – arts, relaxation, exercise, whatever you want it to be!’

Pippa Lobban, GT Community Garden Development Officer

We were delighted that so many people came together to celebrate the young people’s achievement, a few of whom took part in the mural ribbon cutting ceremony. Each were given a certificate for their amazing contributions to the project, with certificates also awarded to the Lend A Hand team for their hard work renovating the garages themselves. It was a fantastic afternoon and a wonderful way to round off the project!

The Final Result

The final mural is vibrant and joyful – a reflection of and credit to the wonderful young people that created it, as well as the Muirhouse community. It’s become a real focal point in the area, with gardeners and local passers-by commenting that it has brightened up the space, and made the garden feel more lived in. It can also be spotted from a nearby roundabout, which has sparked local curiosity and encouraged people to wander up the path to see what is happening – more footfall in and around the garden is always positive!

‘The mural is great, it really brightens up a blank space. The gardeners love it, it’s made them feel like the garden is part of something bigger and it’s great to see several of the local kids popping in to show their painting skills off to their friends.’

Sylva Atkins, GT Community Gardener at Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden

We hope that the young people’s time in the garden throughout the summer has grown their understanding of and appreciation for the space, and encouraged them to use and care for it alongside their family, friends, and neighbours as they grow older, fostering community spirit along the way.

A massive thank you and well done to everyone involved, and here’s to many more creative community garden projects in the future!

A new mural at Muirhouse Community Garden organised by the National Galleries of Scotland was unveiled by some children who worked on it with artist Natasha.

Muirhouse growing sessions run Wednesdays 9:30am-12:30pm, and Sundays 1-4pm, our map will help you find us! Pop in to see the mural for yourself, have a wander around the garden and chat to the lovely group – a cup of tea and a biscuit are always on offer, and Sylva will be happy to chat to you if you’d like to get involved with growing.

MYDG provides opportunities for local young people that foster a positive view of their own future and their impact on the world around them.

National Galleries of Scotland brings together a world class collection of artworks across the National, Modern, and Portrait galleries in Edinburgh.

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Meet Our Community Gardeners: Sylva, Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden

Project Update: Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden

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Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden: Community Gardens Are About More Than Growing Food!

September 6, 2024

One of the great folks that comes along to the newly opened Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden has been doing just that, carving out time to do something she loves – sketching. She shared with us why she loves to draw in the garden, some photos of her sketches, and highlights that community gardens are for everyone.

Have you always enjoyed sketching, and how did you come to love it as a hobby?
I did art when I was young and starting out, and am returning to it now that I’m older, with worse eyes but just as much enthusiasm and joy, Art is how I connect with the world – and it’s fun! Even the simplest sketch involves conceptual thinking so it’s deep too – and you meet really cool people along the way, there’s that as well.

What are your favourite things to sketch?
Diversity, I think, is what I enjoy most both in life and to draw.

Why do you enjoy sketching in the Muirhouse garden?
Just that it’s ok! I can sit and draw and nobody minds. I can also do polyculture in the raised bed I adopted, and nobody minds that either. Sitting and sketching is my way of saying, ‘it’s ok to be here in this garden,’ it’s for us.

Do you think that spending time sketching in the garden has a positive impact for you?
For a high-rise dweller like me the garden as a community space is all kinds of wonderful! Being able to just sit and draw is a big deal for me. I’m more used to sketching at bus stops or perhaps on the (alas increasingly rare) benches dotted around the city. A liminal activity in liminal spaces. Having a garden to sit and draw in is astonishing and unexpected – and amazing. That’s the art bit, that it’s a garden is even better, and that it’s a community garden better yet, so yes, a very positive impact.

The Muirhouse garden is new to the neighbourhood, what do you think about the garden as a space for local people?
The community here is very strong and always has been. We have a history of initiatives being helicoptered in though, so the garden is on the ‘wait and see’ spectrum as far as I can make out, with general good feeling, particularly about growing food for the community, which, given the fact that we haven’t had a supermarket for over a decade, seems a very good idea. I think people are unsure if they’re just expected to donate hours to help. Many people walk past and look in, wave, but under their eyes is what they must do next to keep going in their own lives, not much time nor energy for donating hours.

What would you say to those people to encourage them to stop by for a chat with neighbours, or simply to enjoy the space without feeling as though they have to donate hours?
They should know that there’s really no pressure! My approach is to wave and say hello if I’ve seen someone pass by a few times. Sometimes they’ll pause and chat a little longer, mention how nice the garden is – and that gives me the chance to say they’re welcome to come in for a wander and closer look.

Find your local community garden to see how you can get involved and explore how you can use the space using our map.

Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden holds gardening sessions every Wednesday from 9:30am-12:30pm, and Sunday from 1-4pm.

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Project Update: Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden

Highlights of 2023

December 20, 2023

As 2023 draws to a close, we are looking back on what we achieved this year in collaboration with our partners, volunteers, and the local people who participate in growing projects across Edinburgh. Here is a look at some of the highlights!

2023 was marked by the Edinburgh Growing Together project, which is delivered by Edible Estates, funded by City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) as the City’s Community Gardening Framework, and by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSP). The project aims to support community gardening on council housing land.

This is the first year we had a full team working on the project. Our Project Manager and Development Officer have been building relationships with existing garden groups and partner organisations, while starting new resident groups to both improve existing gardens, and create new ones. We were delighted to employ seven community gardeners across the city to support growers to achieve their skills and ambitions. Through this, we have been working to:

Increase production of locally grown fruit and veg
Create places and activities that bring communities together
Improve community wellbeing, skills, and knowledge

We delivered 591 hours of community gardening sessions across Edinburgh in 2023, supporting local communities to enjoy activities together, grow local produce, and improve wellbeing.

Launching the Lend a Hand Project

Launching a new project is always exciting as it means getting to know more local people and supporting them with their goals, confidence and skills – and this is no different with Lend a Hand! While our Growing Youth project trains young people in joinery, construction, and horticulture, Lend a Hand aims to do so with people aged 50+ that are out of employment. This is a pilot project, which will be run by experienced workshop leaders. We are looking forward to getting stuck in and seeing how the project develops in 2024.

101 people newly engaged in community growing this year, meaning they spent more time outdoors being active, socialising, and learning new skills.

Bringing Greenspaces Back to Life and Getting People Involved

Greendykes Community Backgreen

The Greendykes garden was locked and out of use prior to 2023. Back in January, we met with a small number of residents to hear what they would like from the space, and from there held weekly community gardener sessions throughout the year to teach residents how to grow and establish the garden. Over the months, the group grew to over ten participants and their families, each taking on a group of raised beds. The remaining planters were used to grow fruit, vegetables, flowers, and herbs communally. We also brought the adjoining community room back into use for shelter and for everyone to enjoy a cup of tea together during sessions. The growers had a great growing season, regularly sharing photos of their harvests and resulting meals on the group WhatsApp.

I would like to congratulate the fantastic garden that you all achieved. Now it is wonderful to look out the window and see so much life.

– Neighbour, Greendykes Community Backgreen

Hawkhill and Nisbett Courts Garden

This garden has 11 plots, each with tool storage, and there are several home-built greenhouses. When we first met the group, there were only four growers and the site needed tidying. Community Gardener Richard supported in clearing the site of rubbish and spreading compost. With the vacant plots clear and ready to use, we advertised them to residents.

We also ran a six-week Grow Your Own course to support new growers in food growing. We are delighted that as the year ends, all plots are now taken, and looking forward to seeing what everyone grows next year.

Mount Lodge Green

Mount Lodge Green is in an area of council housing in Portobello. Locals approached CEC and Edible Estates with ideas to develop the disused greenspace on their street, which had been locked for a long time. They were supported to design a space with a central grass space for perennial plants, a wildlife border, and bird boxes. Community Gardener Paul worked with residents in a series of sessions to plant up the central biodiversity bed and perimeter wildflower area.

We are happy to see that after the efforts of everyone involved, the space has become a place where nature can thrive and neighbours come together to socialise and garden.

We installed 7000 litres of rainwater harvesting across growing projects, supporting gardeners to grow more fruit and veg while reducing water waste.

Supporting the Creation of New Gardens

Hutchison Neighbourhood Garden

The Hutchison Garden has been a long time in the making, so we were thrilled to see it come into being this year after lots of community engagement, planning, and scouting for the perfect site!

The community began building the garden in July, supported by Community Gardener Gaby. Happily, there has been steady numbers of participants, who made fast work of raised bed construction, path building, and edging the forest garden. Growing Youth ASLS sessions also run weekly from the site, which has been a nice way to see two projects work collaboratively.

We were delighted to have the garden featured on STV News whereby residents, who have lived there for many years, commented on how they had gotten to know their neighbours. The garden is quickly becoming a place where the community can gather and make positive change in their area.

It’s been great. There’s people that I’d never met before, I knew their faces but I’ve never actually spoken to them. Now we’re getting on fine. It makes a big difference, not passing people in the street

– David, Hutchison resident of 20+ years and garden participant

Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden

After lots of community engagement, residents began building their garden in September, with twice weekly sessions from Community Gardener Johanna. These have been well attended so far, and have also seen lots of conversations with passers by admiring the project. Raised beds have been built, the soil is prepped for the forest garden, and winter crops have been planted – all of which sets the growers up nicely for 2024!

We have also hired new Growing Youth leaders to run sessions at the site, which will provide local school-age pupils the opportunity to learn joinery, horticulture, and landscaping skills. These pupils will assist in the building of the garden and the renovation of the garages. Looking to the future, there are ideas for youth sessions with our community gardeners, and a mural project on the vacant garage wall, with young people and local artists. Watch this space!

Broomhouse Orchard

Broomhouse Market Garden has been a huge success in recent years, and Broomhouse Community Growers Association (BCGA) were keen to expand into other greenspaces in the area. We supported them to get permission to develop an orchard, which they designed with the help of orchard expert Jon Hancox.

With funding from Scotmid Orchard and Kew Gardens Grow Wild Fund, and support from Community Gardener Faith, the group set about clearing the site of weeds and rubbish, planting heritage fruit trees, and creating a wildflower area. Compost bays and rainwater collection were provided through Community Gardening Framework & UKSP funds.

The group hopes it will provide a new venue for locals to gather, opportunities to grow, harvest and eat locally sourced fruit, and become a natural space for wildlife and insects to flourish. The before and after of the site is fantastic, and we look forward to seeing it in action in 2024.

We converted 2550 metres² land into growing spaces for local communities, and built or replaced 92 raised beds.

Making Plans in New Communities

Dumbiedykes

In May, we held a community meeting for residents to share their ideas about growing locally, which saw lots of enthusiasm. Community Gardener Johanna then held weekly growing sessions with residents, and worked with CEC Housing Officers to gain permission to develop and maintain growing spaces across Dumbiedykes. Happily, lots of progress has been made! Growers have now built and planted up wooden planters, and developed some small plots with edible plants and those beneficial to wildlife around the area, adding some lovely spots of colour and life to the community. It has been a positive start to the project, with plans for next year to be discussed over the winter.

Oxgangs

This year we have been exploring the idea of creating smaller growing sites across Oxgangs. We worked with Oxgangs Community Church to host meetings in their Community Hub, and see if local people were interested in getting involved in community growing. These were well attended with lots of ideas flowing. Looking to the future, the plan is to start two growing projects, and Community Gardener Stuart is now leading sessions at 3 Oxgangs Drive to develop a biodiversity border and build communal raised beds.

We are pleased with the progress made in the area this year, and are excited to keep planning with residents in 2024.

Inch Plant Nursery Partnership

Edible Estates partnered with CEC’s Inch Plant Nursery to provide 35 gardens with a variety of vegetable, herb, and fruit plug plants, grown by Janice and the team. A total of 5500 plants were ordered across growing projects! The offer was popular among first-time growers, who will hopefully experience a successful 2024 growing season as a result.

Sighthill Primary School Farm Pupils Winning Gold

School Farmers work hard across the school year to grow all sorts of fruit, vegetables, and flowers, while learning about the natural world around them, so we were pleased that pupils attending Sighthill Primary School Farm were recognised at the Royal Calendonian Horticultural Society’s Spring Show Schools Competition. With support from School Farm Leader Shona, P6 & 7 pupils planted daffodils in preparation for the event, which took place in April 2023.. They selected their best blooms for competition, and were delighted to be awarded gold by the judges!

We hope everyone has a fantastic festive period, and we look forward to continuing work with our staff, volunteers, partner organisations, and local residents in 2024. Stay safe and here’s to 2024!

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Project Update: Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden

Leith’s Citadel Gardeners Are Transforming Their Growing Space

November 10, 2023

The Citadel Gardeners in Leith are a group supported by Bethany Christian Trust, and have been gardening together since 2020, when they restored a neglected site which was being used as a dumping ground. Edinburgh Growing Together is supporting the group by providing a Community Gardener to lead workshops, as well as materials to build growing beds.

Over the last several months, they have been busy transforming their growing space with the welcome support of Community Gardener, Hannah. In July, they took part in a series of Grow Your Own workshops, during which they planted seeds and got to know their soil types and textures.

More recently, the group have built four new raised beds. They worked together to level the area, sift the soil, and construct the beds. This will allow the gardeners to access their plots without bending down so far, making them functional as well as lovely to look at when they’re all planted up! They plan to add a polytunnel lid on one of the beds to extend the growing season.

Keep an eye on our socials for updates about Citadel Gardeners. We are looking forward to seeing how they continue transforming their growing space and getting stuck in to next year’s growing season!

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Project Update: Hutchison Neighbourhood Garden

Project Update: Muirhouse Neighbourhood Garden

November 2, 2023

In 2021, Edible Estates was asked by Community Renewal, an organisation supporting community development in Muirhouse, to identify how community greenspace projects could be developed in the area after a group of local people expressed interest in becoming involved in a greenspace project. Surveys and design workshops revealed local people would like a neighbourhood garden space in their area. After Re:Solution conducted a Greenspace Study in October 2021, a suitable site next to Fidra Court was chosen.

Alongside Community Renewal and Fidra Court Community Kitchen, we then held events to gather ideas from residents and chat about the benefits a neighbourhood garden would bring to the area, and we were pleased to see lots of enthusiasm about growing a sense of community and having a space to socialise and learn new skills. Meanwhile we worked with the Council to secure funding to build paths and fencing for the garden.

The project saw a fun and productive first gardening session on the 10th of September 2023, where local residents got stuck in chatting with neighbours while building raised beds, planting winter crops, and enjoying some much needed refreshments from the lovely team at Fidra Kitchen. We were also delighted to receive a donation of plants for the first session from Inch Plant Nursery. Since then, twice-weekly sessions have been running with the support of Community Gardener, Johanna, and we are pleased to see they have been well attended by the local community. Happily, the garden’s location allows local people to stop for a chat and get involved, which has meant lots of community engagement.

So far lots of progress has been made, with half of the raised beds built, winter crops planted up in the first two planters, and lots of soil prepped for the forest garden. It’s always fantastic to see what can be achieved in such a short space of time when the community comes together!

Looking forward, our Growing Youth team will run sessions at the site to give school pupils the chance to learn some joinery, horticulture and landscaping skills by assisting the community in building the garden, and renovating the site’s derelict garages into a tool storage shed and micro-community hub. Similarly, our new pilot project Lend a Hand will allow individuals who are 50+ and out of employment to gain training, skills, and experience in those same areas by assisting in construction. We are looking forward to seeing these projects collaborate with local residents to bring the garden to life!

Once growing gets going, the garden will provide locally grown, seasonal fruit and vegetables to Fidra Kitchen, and become a community venue for local people and organisations to enjoy and socialise in.

If you’d like to get involved, pop along on Wednesdays 9:30am-12:30pm or Sundays from 1-4pm – no experience required! For more information contact our Community Garden Development Officer, Pippa, at pippa@edibleestates.scot or 07549431528.

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Featured Grower: Rab, Hawkhill Allotments

September 19, 2023

Our Garden Development Officer Pippa recently sat down to have a chat with grower Rab about his garden, what he has been growing this season, and what he enjoys about community gardening. During the interview, a fellow gardener popped in to say that Rab is always lending a hand with her plot, and that she benefits from his growing as he often lets her try his produce – which lended itself nicely to chatting about the community building nature of gardening. Rab brings a wealth of growing knowledge and experience to the Hawkhill site, and it made for an interesting chat!

What are you growing this season?

I’m growing Heritage tomatoes in my greenhouses this year, which are an old-fashioned tomato, around 200—250 years old. The particular variety I’m growing are called Cherokee Purple Tomatoes, named so as they were originally cultivated by Cherokee indigenous peoples. They are an exceptional variety, and growing heritage tomatoes is beneficial as they always produce a better taste than if I were to grow bog-standard varieties. I purchase the seeds online from Nicky’s Nursery.

What are you most proud of this growing season?

Definitely my tomatoes, as I’m confident that they will turn colour soon. I’m growing some other unique varieties including the Jersey Devil, which are almost like a pointed cone in shape, and turn a bright red-orange shade. I had never seen them before, and it’s my first time growing them. Once they are ripe I’ll taste one tomato to check their quality, but I’ll give the rest away for people to use in their cooking.

Do you grow different crops each year?

I change what I grow every year, for example different varieties of tomatoes and beans, which keeps it entertaining.

Is there anything you do grow every year?

Strawberries, they have to be perfect. I also grow framberries every year, which are a strawberry-raspberry hybrid. They are exceptional, and have a better taste than strawberries. They look like a rounder strawberry, but when you harvest them they pull out like a raspberry. Another gardener had never tried them before and she loves them now. They grow on runners, I started with six and now have twelve for next year. My hope is to multiply the amount each year, and for the other gardeners to be able to enjoy them.

So, you don’t eat much of the produce you grow?

No, I enjoy the process of growing but I prefer to share my yields with others. It’s been a great way to get to know my neighbours better, as I’ll knock on their doors, ask if they like blueberries for example, and if they do I’ll give them my harvest to use in their recipes.

How did you originally get into gardening?

My father had an allotment for a long time some fifty years ago, and I used to go along and help him when I was in my twenties. I took the plot on when he passed away, and kept it up for a further ten years before I moved away. I gave up on gardening due to work, until I moved to Hawkhill and put my name down for an allotment. Originally there were not a lot of people using the plots, half of them were empty for a few years, however now they are pretty much all in use. I got a plot straight away, and have been growing here for ten years. I’m a joiner by trade, and the logical and precise thinking that job needs translates well into gardening. I designed and built both of my greenhouses.

They’ve withstood the storms well!

They have. We get a lot of wind swirling through the allotments, so I also have corrugated plastic to protect my plot, though you are meant to let a little wind through your crops.

So, do you check the weather a lot then?

I’m constantly checking the weather, every morning, in relation to my garden, so I can plan what I need to do to help my plants that week.

What impact does gardening have on your life?

It’s a great hobby, it’s all I really think about, especially what my next project will be. I’m a very relaxed person and I think that’s in part due to being outside all the time, the garden gives me another space outside the home so I’m not stuck indoors.

How do you think the gardens benefit the local area?

I think it’s nice to see greenery instead of a car park, and nice to see people tending plots.

Is there a sense of community within the garden?

We certainly help each other out and exchange advice. I’m more than happy to give it as a more experienced grower. Another gardener was a little disheartened when she struggled with growing cabbages, so I helped her establish paths in her plot, and how to use black plastic to limit weeds as they were ferocious. I lend a hand as I don’t want people to give up.

What skills have you learned from gardening?

A whole selection really. There is a certain method to growing plants, and if you stick with it you will be successful. You can’t be haphazard, you have to be strict with it as those methods are there for a reason. Do that and you’ll be fine. I’ve been growing for thirty years, and I learned a lot from my dad, but really the best thing for gardening is Youtube, you can find anything on there and it’s so accessible, especially for people just getting started.

Do you have any advice or words of encouragement for new growers?

Regardless of whether or not you are a beginner, all of the information you need is out there. Fake it until you make it, and don’t be embarrassed to ask more experienced growers for advice.

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Project Update: Hutchison Neighbourhood Garden

August 22, 2023

Edible Estates were asked by Edinburgh Council to work with the residents of Hutchison (an estate in the SW of Edinburgh,) to identify ways in which greenspaces in the neighbourhood could be improved with the support of the community and Council. In 2019, we ran a series of community consultations, during which the establishment of a neighbourhood garden in local greenspace was a particularly popular idea among residents. We then conducted surveys of the surrounding residents in 2020 and 2023, which received a majority positive response. Planning permission was applied for and granted in 2023

The new Neighbourhood Garden site is an area of greenspace managed by the Council within a ring of tenements between Hutchison Medway, and Hutchison Avenue. The site can be accessed by a path on Hutchison Medway.

In July, we hosted a community meeting on site, where the design and a plan to get started was discussed with local residents, and at which we were delighted to see so much enthusiasm. Twice-weekly community gardening sessions began a few day days later, and have since seen a steady 8 – 10 participants each time.

The project also welcomed new Community Gardener, Gaby, who got stuck into coordinating the gardening sessions and has been of huge support to participants as they work together to build 30+ raised growing beds, which will become available to locals once completed.

The first session was slow going, as participants were cutting the turf by hand. Though this was hard work, it really brought the team together, and made the process considerably easier. During the second session, a mechanical turf cutter was accessed, which really sped up the process. The group split into two teams, one to build the beds, the other to move the cut turves. The former team proved especially efficient, with raised beds piling up so quickly that more wood had to be obtained.

Across the new school term, our Growing Youth team will be working to build the garden’s large community shed, which will support both the garden, as well as other community activities and greenspace projects across Hutchison. The group are particularly looking forward to this amenity, as it will feature a veranda where they can sit with their neighbours out of the rain, have a cup of tea, and get to know one another.

Participants have commented that they hope the garden will serve as a space to foster relationships with their neighbours, since local shops and community spaces which allowed people to bump into one another no longer exist. They also hope to engage local organisations and schools to come and use the space, and perhaps take on a raised bed to learn how to grow their own produce as a group.

Once the raised beds are in place, next steps include building the paths, and planting up the forest garden border, which will be comprised of fruit trees, bushes, and plants. The group also aim to catch the end of the growing season and plant up some of the raised beds with over-wintering crops. Additionally, the fence around the site will be renovated with gates installed (if households want them,) so that residents living around the site can access it directly.

If you’d like to get involved, pop along to the Thursday and Saturday sessions with Gaby from 9:30am -12:30pm – no experience required! For further information contact our Community Garden Development Officer, Pippa, at pippa@edibleestates.scot or 07549431528.

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Signup to our newsletter to get updates to your inbox.

Project Update: Broomhouse Orchard

July 17, 2023

In 2023, Broomhouse Growers acquired a new site in Broomhouse, with the intention of creating a community orchard and nature space, transforming the previously abandoned and unloved bit of land. The project was borne from a desire to expand upon the Broomhouse Community Garden, which is a small and highly developed site. The two sites will work to compliment one another and increase the amount of produce harvested for both growers and the wider community.

The group took advice from the marvellous John Cox at ScottishFruitTrees.com, and planted apple, pear, and plum trees quite close together in lines, with the intention of keeping them under 3m tall and therefore easier to harvest from. They were planted after some heavy rain and then mulched heavily with a mixture of sheep’s wool fleece from a local farmer (the birds love to line their nests with this,) and woodchip from a local gardener. So far they are thriving, and the group are looking forward to having plenty of fruit from next year.

Next to the orchard, the nature space is sandwiched between two three-storey tenements – the group recently cleared all the weeds they could (though the docks are proving to be worthy adversaries,) and sowed a number of wildflower mixes from Scotia Seeds. The recent rainfall has been welcome in this respect.

They have also been keeping a look out for a second-hand water tank so they can collect rainwater from a neighbour’s shed roof, and are looking to set up a seating area for community members to enjoy the space, as well as a small wildlife pond and some bird boxes, to try and make the area more attractive to wildlife.

It has been fantastic to see the dedicated group of volunteers bring this site to life, and we are looking forward to seeing how it develops!

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