On 17th April regular (and other) attendees of Glenfinart Walled Garden’s Masterclasses bade resident expert gardener and horticulturalist, Franziska Schmidt, a regrettable but very fond farewell.

The final class of the series covered medicinal and healing plants and, as ever, was expertly resourced and delivered. Content ranged from identifying a number of relevant plants to how to collect and prepare herbs for teas, poultices, infusions, balms, and tinctures and their potential uses and precautions.

The relaxed and friendly group participation has been a trademark of the series and it was with a degree of sadness that goodbyes were said and thanks expressed along with lots of good wishes to Franziska for her personal and professional future.

The new issue of Gardener’s Blether, the newsletter of Glenfinart Walled Garden, can be downloaded here (PDF)

Glenfinart Walled Garden has been chosen to receive a grant from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme. These funds will be used to improve access to the garden and provide disabled parking.

Tesco has teamed up with greenspace scotland to launch its Bags of Help initiative across Scotland. The scheme will see three community groups and projects awarded grants of £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 – all raised from the 5p bag charge.

Bags of Help offers community groups and projects in each of Tesco’s regions across the UK a share of revenue generated from the five pence charge levied on single-use carrier bags.

The public will now vote in store from 27 February until 6 March on who should receive the £12,000, £10,000 and £8,000 awards.

Voting in this region will take place in Tesco’s Helensburgh Store.

January issue of Gardener’s Blether, the newsletter of Glenfinart Walled Garden (PDF).