Tern TV was in Ardentinny on Saturday filming the ‘before’ shots for Beechgrove’s programme on Glenfinart Walled Garden. In the meantime, their landscape designer, Lynn Harris had taken away ‘the wish list’ for possible inclusion in the garden design.

Lynn and Beechgrove researcher, Stacey Shear, had earlier attended a meeting with Ardentinny Community Trust’s Walled Garden Committee in order to ascertain what they would like to have in the garden. Ideas gleaned from community consultations were passed on and the committee received the good news that Lynn intends to do a design for the whole garden, rather than just a part of it.

Due to tight financial and time constraints it will not be possible to put the complete design in place prior to broadcast. However, Lynn felt that by having ‘the whole picture’, this professional design plan could be presented to future potential funders in order to facilitate its eventual completion.

While Lynn and her team are working hard on our behalf, there is something she would like you to do. As it is a time for thinning out or discarding unwanted plants, she has asked that gardeners in Cowal give any excess plants to the project. No matter how insignificant you consider them to be, she promises that every single one will be used somewhere in the garden.

If you have unwanted plants to give or would like to volunteer in the garden, contact Ardentinny Community Trust (ACT) Convener, Bill Williamson on 01369 810238, or ACT secretary, Merle Ferguson 01369 810220 (In the case of adverse weather conditions, please phone either of these numbers to check that the garden is open). Alternatively, you can visit the garden between 10.00 and 16.00 hours on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays or contact the committee at info@glenfinartgarden.org.

The Beechgrove Garden team will be in Cowal to record the programme from 31 July – 2 August, 2013. 

Sophie Thompson and her ‘Plumsden’ tree!

Glenfinart Walled Garden’s patron and friend, Sophie Thompson/Lumsden recently planted a plum tree in the garden’s fledgling orchard. She was also kind enough to share her thoughts on this special garden project:

The Glenfinart walled garden feels like it is reclaiming something so utterly nourishing for the local community, literally getting down to the roots of the enchanting place that is Ardentinny. 

The inclusive nature of a garden that embraces all ages, something organic that lies at the very heart of the village, that everyone can be a part of and benefit from, is the sort of thing that can lift a spirit and make a person want to burst in to song!

I spared Anna and Bill Williamson that as we went along on a bright day in February (Yes BRIGHT!) to plant a Plum tree. I just felt plugged in to something so special.

Visited said Plum with Mr Plumsden and the kids a few weeks later. It made us feel so honoured to be a wee part of such an awesome community endeavour.

An utterly fecund place for the roots of Ardentinny to be tended and flourish.

Sophie and her sister Emma Thompson are patrons of Glenfinart Walled Garden.

Beechgrove presentation in the village hall

Ardentinny residents and visitors warmly welcomed a team from Beechgrove Garden on Wednesday, 6 March. The Glenfinart Walled Garden’s application for inclusion in this year’s Beechgrove programming had been shortlisted and the programme’s producer, their garden designer and a researcher came along to give a small presentation on what could be expected, if our garden was selected, and to meet local people and visit the garden itself.

Garden designer Lynn Harris

Producer Gwyneth Hardy began by introducing her colleagues, Landscape Designer, Lynn Harris and Researcher, Stacey Shear. She then went on to explain what the Beechgrove Garden Community Garden initiative would bring to the Glenfinart Walled Garden project, should it be chosen as one of the three community gardens to be featured from a shortlist of 12.

This year, for the first time, Beechgrove will go out UK wide. There will be a Thursday night showing in Scotland only, to be repeated on Sunday afternoons in Scotland and broadcast to the rest of the UK. This should provide even greater exposure for the chosen projects and their locations.

Gwyneth explained that Beechgrove does not do all the work. Instead it acts as an enabler, a catalyst, providing projects with a kick start and a helping hand. The first of these is a deadline. Whatever the agreed plan, it will need to be completed by the end of July, August, or September, depending on which programme deadline is agreed for each garden.

The second, and probably the most important source of assistance, is the guidance and expertise of Beechgrove’s Landscape designer Lynn Harris. Rather than impose her ideas, she would work together with the community in drawing up a realistic plan for a particular phase of the garden, along with a planting plan and construction plan. She would also help in sourcing materials and would manage the project off-site with regular visits at crucial stages.

The Beechgrove Team visit the garden

Finally, in addition to completing a worthwhile gardening project for and by the community, the surrounding area would benefit enormously from having a whole programme focussing on its horticulture and beautiful gardens.
After questions, everyone visited the garden where they were able to chat about the project on site. Thereafter, it was back to the village hall, for tea and a mountain of home baking. While we’ve been told that the competition is fierce and the odds are 3:1, there is a group of very enthusiastic and optimistic folks in Cowal hopeful that Ardentinny’s Glenfinart Walled Garden will be one of the Beechgrove community gardens featured this year.

[Click images to enlarge]

Glenfinart Walled Garden newsletter – Issue 2 (PDF)

Dennis Gower plants one of the fruit trees with some of the volunteers

On 31st January, stalwart supporters of Glenfinart Walled Garden,who still remember when an orchard grew there, turned up to begin planting 30 young fruit trees brought by John Hancox, from The Commonwealth Orchard. John is the person who began Apple Day, which is now celebrated every year in the Scottish Parliament. He is also an expert in Scottish Heritage Trees.

Leigh Hamilton, ranger with the National Park, brought 4 volunteers to help and along with some local people, a good start was made in spite of the very wet weather. Bill Williamson, Convenor of Ardentinny Community Trust thanked Leigh and also, John Brown (Strone) Ltd who have contributed to making the garden safe for volunteers. He also thanked [Read more...]

The first month of the New Year sees some major work going ahead in Glenfinart Walled Garden. Thanks to David Robertson and colleagues from the Forestry Commission the ground has been cleared for the arrival of 30 fruit trees on Thursday, 31st January.

John Forth from the National Park is organizing half a dozen volunteers to help with planting along with our volunteer co-ordinator, John Kloumann. John Hancox from the Children’s Commonwealth Orchard  will be on hand to advise. We plan to have plenty of hot soup and sandwiches. Weather permitting of course, we will be glad to see anyone who would like to lend some time and energy on the day or even to just come and say hello.

Ardentinny Community Trust would like to thank all of the above and also a special thank you to Jim Robinson, Ardentinny, who stepped in during an emergency with good humour , much hard work and expertise! For more information you can contact Bill, Convener, tel. 01369 810238 or Merle, Secretary, tel 01369 810220.

Merle Ferguson.

The ambitious Glenfinart Walled Garden project took a major step forward this week with the installation of a 24 square metre log cabin. The building will be used as the main administrative centre for the project.

Trust Convenor Bill Williamson said “2012 has been a remarkable year for Ardentinny. With the support of the community and our funders, we have acquired this historic garden and are now on the way to returning it to its former glory”.

Despite the freezing conditions on Tuesday, the crew from Forest Craft completed the cabin build before nightfall. Volunteers from the village also braved the elements to dispose of the recently felled birch trees and goat willow.

Over the coming weeks the group will be planting some 30 fruit trees in the garden as well as fitting out their new premises.

The Trust would very much welcome additional help. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Bill or Anna on 810238, Merle or Dennis on 810220 or Jimmy on 810170.

Work in progress: polytunnel, small shed and foundation for large timber building.

Ardentinny Community Trust this week published its first newsletter which has been distributed to all village residents. The update follows the progress of the garden from March 2012 to the present. Highlights from the year include the acquisition of the garden in late March; an Open Day at the Village Hall in May; clearing of part of the site in June; the agreement for Emma and Sophie Thompson to become patrons of the garden in August; and the construction of a small shed and polytunnel frame in November.

Throughout the year Trust Directors have also made several visits to similar projects throughout the UK and there have been visits to the Walled Garden by horticultural professionals in an advisory capacity. Before Christmas, the Trust hopes to have new fruit trees in place as well as the completion of the large timber shed.

With much work still to be done, the Trust would very much welcome additional volunteers. If you are interested, please contact Bill or Anna on 810238, Merle or Dennis on 810220 or Jimmy on 810170.

Ardentinny Community Trust Newsletter (PDF).

Ardentinny Community Trust displayed its Glenfinart Walled Garden project at the Hunter’s Quay Holiday Village ‘Small Acorns’ environmental event on Sunday 8th August. In addition to the information video and leaflets, there was a Wish Tree where young and old alike could hang their wishes for the garden. Among the many wishes for sunshine, rain and strawberries, two of the most memorable were one from a three-year-old who wished for ‘compost’ while a ten-year-old boy felt ‘a million pounds’ was what the garden needed most.

The Trust thanks the organisers for their invitation to exhibit at this wonderfully entertaining and informative event.

‘Day of Information & Imagination’ [click image to enlarge]

While the Walled Garden is the Trust’s current project, interest in buying and restoring it dates back to 2007 when the Trust organized a ‘Day of Information and Imagination‘ where one of four proposals to be considered by the community was that of the Trust buying the Walled Garden from Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and sourcing funding to restore the Grade II listed wall. Part of the proposal included leasing the garden space to a local company who proposed restoration and use of the garden. The day was attended by Forest Enterprise, The Community Land Unit and the National Park’s Community Future’s Initiative. However, on the day, the Community Land Unit informed both the Trust and FCS that leasing community land to a private enterprise was not permissible and so, sadly, the proposal had to be abandoned before residents could give it their full consideration.

However, in March 2010, FCS advertised the sale of Glenfinart Walled Garden for which the community was given first refusal. In April of that year the Community Council registered interest in the property. As The Community Trust had since completed the process of dissolution due to a lack of board members, the Community Council appointed a Walled Garden Working Group to ascertain the views of  residents. This group surveyed every household and collected and collated the results. Residents were asked if they wished the community to buy the garden and, if yes, how they wished to see it used. The majority voted in favour and their suggestions guided the initial business plan. With this result, there was a clear need for a Trust to raise funds and manage the project and so Ardentinny Community Trust was revived in response to that need.

From that point on it was a question of, first, convincing the National Forest Land Scheme Evaluation Panel that Ardentinny had a viable and sustainable plan for the garden; then, sourcing the funding to buy it, which the Trust achieved in September, 2011. All of which, and more, is documented here.

The Trust’s report for this last year includes a variety of fund and awareness-raising activities; sourcing funding for and the appointment of a project development officer and a volunteers’ supervisor and, above all, the successful completion of the purchase of Glenfinart Walled Garden for and on behalf of the community of Ardentinny.

Trust Convenor, Dennis Gower, who has steered the Board of Directors since the Trust’s revival, is stepping down as Convenor but will remain on the Board. Pauline Gordon and Anna Williamson are retiring from the Board while Bill Williamson and Carolyn Elder were proposed and seconded as new Trust Directors.  In accordance with the Constitution, office bearers will be elected at the first meeting of the new committee.