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April 5, 2024February 28, 2026

Monarch of Glenfinart pulls in the crowds

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.

For more information on volunteering at the garden, visit the group’s Facebook page or www.glenfinartgarden.org.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

March 25, 2024February 28, 2026

An Eggstraordinary fun day this weekend!

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!

March 9, 2024February 28, 2026

One man’s silent vigil for 6 year-old Palestinian girl

Bill Williamson outside Dunoon Burgh Hall

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.

February 3, 2024February 28, 2026

Dennis Gower (31.1.1927 – 27.1.2024)

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 Garden

Filming of BBC Beechgrove Garden at Glenfinart Walled Garden 2013

Dennis with former Argyll MSP Michael Russell at the garden c. 2010.

Glenfinart Walled Garden exhibition 2010.

December 13, 2023February 28, 2026

Ardentinny Christmas Singalong this Friday!

As a thank you and to celebrate Christmas, the Village Hall Management Group would like to invite the village to a sing along at the Ardentinny Bistro.
There will be live music, Christmas carols and other songs.

A free buffet will be provided from 6pm and the bar will be open for you to buy drinks until closing at 11pm.

Although this is a closed function for the village for the night, any guests who may be visiting you over the festive period are very welcome to come too.

This is a chance for everyone to get together and have a good time and basically, another excuse to have a party.

Ardentinny Village Hall.

Footnote: Check out here how the village celebrated Christmas way back in 2007