*****BIG NEWS FROM BIG LOTTERY*****

Bridgend Growing Communities has been awarded a grant of £137,000 from Big Lottery Fund. The money will be used for the ‘Getting Communities Growing Together ‘project which will benefit the communities of Gilmerton and Craigmillar. The project will work with four groups at different locations to transform underused or neglected areas into growing spaces. Support workers and volunteers will work with pensioners and teenagers to grow fruit and vegetables, work with families to create community allotments in an open grassed area and will work with school pupils and their parents to convert part of the school playground into a growing space. Additionally they will work with young people who are not in training or employment to transform an area at Gilmerton Community Centre into a temporary growing space with moveable raised bed for older people. Once the projects are completed the groups will come together to celebrate and identify future projects.

from left Chairman Iain Shaw, Honorary Member Councillor Andrew Burns and Secretary Karen Carrick.

Building raised beds in a local primary school 

To support food growing in the community we have been building more raised beds, this time in a striking saltire design.
Many thanks to Harry, Rowan, Craig, Chris Y, Bob, Jason and all the children that have helped.

Building beds at Bridgend

To create a low maintenance space at Bridgend we are busy building new raised beds. The timber is colour coded to help define zones for crop rotation.

Many thanks to Vivian for her creativity and for undertaking so many different designs. And brilliant effort by everyone who has helped with the prep of the boards and all the graft landscaping.

Wormeries and hot boxes workshop

Our practical workshop for constructing wormeries and hot boxes was attended by individuals and a group from Youth Vision.

Wormeries offer a super fertile by-product of the worm cast. Whilst hot boxes can really help speed up your composting process.

Please enquiry for more information, places are limited.

Wormery worksheet click here.

Hot box worksheet click here

Lunchtime at Bridgend

Roasted artichokes, a hearty soup and mighty fine company all make a fresh day at the allotment such a pleasure.

Tree planting at Liberton High School

Representatives of Bridgend Growing Communities  joined pupils, staff and parents to plant over 40 fruit trees in the grounds of Liberton High School. Great to see such an after school activity being so fruitfully well attended.