Ardentinny Renewables Trust (ART) has recently published its Mid 2024 newsletter, highlighting the past six months of funding activities.
With a substantial increase this year in income from the local hydro projects, contributions from the four hydro installations have been able to fund or part-fund picnic tables for Glenfinart Walled Garden, bowling green repairs, sound equipment for the music group and an internet and phone service for the village hall. Since the inception of the first hydro project in 2017, our community has benefited to the amount of over £69,000.
The Trust’s Annual General Meeting takes place in the Village Hall on Tuesday, 23rd July at 7.30pm. Alongside discussing the past year’s activities, financial situation and outlining its future objectives, the Renewables Trust will also be electing Trustees for the forthcoming year. Everyone is welcome.
Glenfinart Walled Garden’s Easter Fun Day marked a sunny and successful start to the 2024 season at Ardentinny’s community garden. The good weather may have been a contributing factor in attracting large numbers to the event and, once there, fun activities and attractions were in abundance.
As the gates opened at 12 noon, excited youngsters poured in to quickly search for the hidden eggs which would then be exchanged for a chocolate egg in the Easter Egg Hunt. This was followed by the Easter Bonnet competition and great excitement in the Egg and Spoon and sack races. As ever, the stalls were busy and huge queues formed for the burgers and hotdogs.
A new introduction this year was the mural created by artist Kathy Bruce of Dunoon MOCA. The ‘Monarch of Glenfinart’, as it has been affectionately named, was very popular with families having their photos taken with the garden wildlife! Look out for them on social media!
Glenfinart Walled Garden is run entirely by volunteers and aims to provide a space for people to connect with nature and learn about gardening, while also promoting the use of local produce. The success of the Easter Fun Day is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Ardentinny Community Trust volunteers who have transformed this once neglected garden into a thriving community hub.
Get ready for a Sunday full of sunshine (hopefully!) and smiles at Glenfinart Walled Garden, Ardentinny. The excitement begins with the Easter egg hunt followed by egg and spoon races and Easter bonnet parade plus the thrilling tug of war challenge for both kids and adults.
Let the little ones connect with nature by planting a seed and test their skills with the ever-popular coconut shy. Explore a variety of stalls and find plants for your own garden. Don’t miss Ardentinny’s best burgers, hot dogs, teas, coffees, and most notably, Ardentinny’s renowned home baking!
Smile big for a special family photo with Ardentinny’s own Monarch of the Glen!
Come and celebrate the Easter spirit at our community garden. Entry is free, and it’s the more the merrier!
As the tragedy in the Middle East continues, a silent vigil has been held outside Dunoon Burgh Hall to highlight the death of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab. The child who had been missing in Gaza for 12 days after an Israeli tank targeted the family car, killing her six relatives, had initially survived the ordeal and was able to make a call for help. An ambulance was despatched to rescue the little girl, however this was also targeted at the scene, with both crew members killed.
For the past 2 weeks, Ardentinny resident Bill Williamson has been holding his vigil outside Dunoon’s Burgh Hall to highlight the death of the 6-year-old and her family. Bill said “There is a huge tragedy happening before our eyes in Gaza with over 30,000 innocent people dead, this devastation would equate to wiping out more than the whole population of Cowal. To some, this may seem like just another ‘foreign war’ that has nothing to do with them, however on the contrary, there are a number of companies in Scotland that are participating in the manufacture of arms components used against the innocent women and children of Gaza and being subsidised by our governments. This is not acceptable”.
Bill intends to continue with his vigil over the coming weeks.
Former Ardentinny resident and friend, Dennis Gower, peacefully passed away last Saturday.
Dennis was amiable, warm and welcoming, possessing a certain quiet dynamism. Calm, kind, caring, compassionate, witty, quietly mischievous, astute, steadfast, determined & effectual! He was the one you wanted in your corner if your aim was to achieve necessary change or a peaceful resolution.
He was such a gift to Ardentinny, both to the place and to those who visited or called it home. He dedicated many years to Community Council work – being the first advocate of harnessing local hydro power and successfully opposing ill-conceived plans, always approaching every issue in a calm, fair and measured way.
However, there is one project that stands out – that of Glenfinart Walled Garden, whose community purchase and successful development largely belongs to him. He spearheaded the initial survey of village opinion on its purchase while also garnering a vision for its future use. From there he steered us through a fact finding and fundraising campaign culminating in community ownership which he went on to manage and develop into the vibrant community resource it is today.
Dennis on BBC Beechgrove Garden at Glenfinart Walled Garden, August 2013.
His tireless efforts and commitment were rightly recognised in a Loch Lomond & Trossachs Community Partnership Award, not to mention a Dragon’s Den fundraising win from Argyll and Bute’s Social Network Enterprise!
While there is sadness at his going, Dennis leaves us much to cherish and sustain for future generations.
Dennis Gower with the Dragon’s Den £500 cheque at Glenfinart Walled GardenFilming of BBC Beechgrove Garden at Glenfinart Walled Garden 2013Dennis with former Argyll MSP Michael Russell at the garden c. 2010.
