Category: Ardentinny Community Trust

Members of Ardentinny Community Trust warmly welcomed MSP Mike Russell and local Councillor Ron Simon to the Glenfinart Walled Garden in Ardentinny.

The local MSP and Councillor congratulated trust convener, Dennis Gower, on the Trust agreeing the purchase of the garden from the Forestry Commission, a purchase that has been made possible with funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the National Lottery’s Awards for All program and the creative fund raising efforts of the local community.

Mike Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, enthused about the potential of the garden, siting established projects in Campbeltown and the Organic Growers of Fairlie as great examples of how community gardens can bring positive social and environmental benefits to communities.

Situated near the shores of Loch Long, the Grade B listed walled garden, featuring a unique curved wall, is a ‘hidden gem’. Designed as part of the original Glenfinart Estate the working garden included a series glass houses, orchards and vegetable plots. Now only the walls of the garden and some fruit trees remain.

With backing from the local community, the Ardentinny Community Trust are purchasing the garden with the express aim of turning it back into a community resource and saving it from dereliction. They have plans to reinstate the garden for food growing, recreation and environmental education and have recently appointed a project officer, Hannah Clinch, to support these developments with the backing of funding from LEADER.

If you would like more information about the Glenfinart Walled garden or would like to volunteer then please contact the Ardentinny Community Trust info@glenfinartgarden.org or visit www.GlenfinartGarden.org

Hannah Clinch

Despite the rain, Ardentinny Community Trust welcomed Cowalfest walkers to Glenfinart Walled Garden on Saturday 15th October. Walkers were able to go around the garden and also view a small exhibition on the project.

It was a plan hatched at a Highlands and Islands Enterprise conference in Ardfern last year. There, Cowalfest organiser, Diane McCormack met with Trust members and suggested they might like to include the Glenfinart garden in this year’s programme.

The Trust hopes to build on this and have garden visits and walks included in Cowalfest 2012.

Two weeks after receiving the necessary funding to purchase Glenfinart Walled Garden, Ardentinny Community Trust Ltd. has received additional grants from the Scottish Government, European Community & Argyll & The Islands LEADER 2007-2013 programme and Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) to fund a self-employed, part-time Project Officer to support the board of directors to develop a social enterprise. The total value of this contract is £10,000, to which the Trust contributed £1,000,with the remaining £9,000 coming from LEADER (50%) and HIE (50%), respectively.

The successful candidate will identify funding sources, prepare funding applications and supporting information, including community consultations and engagement, and will update the Business Plan as the funding package develops. Applicants need to have experience of fundraising, community engagement and work in the public, private and third sectors. The closing date for applications is 26 October, 2011. The contract is currently being advertised in the Dunoon Observer & Argyllshire Standard, on www.ardentinny.org and on other websites.

Additional funding has also been secured from the Scottish Government, European Community & Argyll & The Islands LEADER 2007-2013 programme (£6,295) and The Big Lottery’s Awards for All programme (£2,000) which, together with £3295 from Ardentinny Trust, will help with other start up costs, e.g.,the provision of a storage facility, tools etc.

Trust Convenor, Dennis Gower, said ‘It is very heartening to see our Glenfinart Garden project garnering such support and, as the news spreads, we receive even more expressions of encouragement and offers of help.’

This weekend the Trust is participating in the Cowalfest programme by welcoming walkers to Glenfinart walled garden at 10.30 and 13.00 on Saturday 15th October. There, they will be welcome to view the garden in its present state and receive information on the project’s progress and future plans.

ARDENTINNY COMMUNITY TRUST LTD.
is looking to procure
A CONTRACT FOR THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES (Project Officer)

Our new, exciting community walled garden project requires a person to support the board of directors to develop a social enterprise. The successful self-employed contractor will be expected to deliver the following outcomes:

• Consult with the community through a range of activities
• Identify income streams and funding opportunities
• Prepare funding applications
• Develop a range of policies
• Create a robust business plan for the enterprise

The timeframe for delivery of the contract is approximately nine months. The contract has a value of £10,000. Experience of fundraising, community engagement and work in the public, private and third sectors is essential.

All enquiries to the Trust Convener on 01369 810220 or by email to info@glenfinartgarden.org. Applications must be received in writing with accompanying CV by 26th October 2011. Applications will be shortlisted on the basis of the quality of the information provided and will be expected to be able to attend interview on the 31st October, 2011.

This project is funded by Ardentinny Community Trust, the Scottish Government and the European Community Argyll & Islands LEADER 2007-2013 Programme and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Earlier this month Ardentinny Community Trust Director, Merle Ferguson attended the Growing Communities in Scotland conference. This is her report:

The event was organized by the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) and Trellis. The Federation was established 31 years ago. To my surprise, their information map highlights 46 community garden sites which can be visited across Scotland, from Good For Ewe in Wester Ross to Crailing Community Orchard in the Borders.

Trellis was established in 2005 as the Scottish Therapeutic Gardening Network and works across Scotland with over 170 therapeutic gardening projects to support each other through the sharing of expertise, good practice and resources.

The day included numerous workshops and a visit to Perth Walled Garden. The main themes were: Social Enterprise and Shareholding; Gardening for Health Initiatives; Environmental Awareness; Transition from Oil; and Sustainable Horticulture Methods. Practical issues where Local Authority Guidance is essential, were Soil Health, Security, Environmental Health and Trading Standards Legislation.

The best part of any conference is networking and apart from the AppleTreeMan and his juicer, a highlight for me was meeting Ron Gilchrist from Fairlie Community Garden. Possibly Ardentinny Community Trust volunteers will be able to visit there in the near future (Greenway looks like a very lively and informative site).

If you are in Glasgow, the Hidden Gardens at the Tramway and Great Gardens run by Govanhill Housing Association are two different and exciting places from which to learn.

Best of all was the visit to Perth Walled Garden where we met the relaxed and thoroughly informative Head Gardener – another man who knows a Bloody Ploughman from a Cox!

Merle Ferguson.
Ardentinny Community Trust Trustee

NB. This day was self financed although at a cheaper rate because ACT is now a member of the Federation.