Category: Ardentinny Community Trust

It’s been a busy week for the Glenfinart Walled Garden volunteers who today put on an amazing display of produce and crafts at Blairmore’s Local Produce Christmas Market.

Anna Williamson, Linda Naismith, Ann Morrison, Janette Reilly, Merle Ferguson, Lynn Kerr, Margaret Robinson and the Community Payback Team created beautiful wreaths and Christmas decorations to raise funds for the Walled Garden. Linda Naismith provided the venue for the village crafters and was a wonderful host, keeping the workers fed and watered (not to mention dealing with the mess left behind!).

Forest foragers gathered berries, hundreds of pine cones, holly and greenery for the wreaths and many from the community donated Christmas decorations, ribbons and craft items to complete the wreaths.  Locals also donated home baking and preserves, hand crafts and designer jewellery. The creative hands of Chris Emmett constructed bird boxes and feeders, the proceeds from which will buy wood for raised beds for the Walled Garden.

A big thank you to everyone!!

Ardentinny Community Trust held a Harvest Fair at Glenfinart Walled Garden on Saturday 12 October. Now a regular item on the Cowalfest programme, this year the garden could offer so much more and it did!

In addition to the recently completed Sensory Garden, inspired and recorded by the BBC’s Beechgrove Community Garden’s programme, there was a host of other attractions. There was apple juice pressing by young and old alike with John Hancox from The Commonwealth Orchard.

Argyll chef, Alison Sycora, provided harvest cooking demonstrations which produced delicious vegetarian dishes such as oat groat risotto. Artist and ceramicist, Bill Williamson attracted crowds all keen to learn how to throw a pot or two and the Walking Theatre Company’s time traveller, Scot Ansgeulaiche, had visitors entranced by ‘stories that have been hidden in the stones of the walls and plants in the grounds of Glenfinart Walled Garden’.

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Volunteers provided bird-box-making lessons and Cowal Red Squirrel Group were on hand with information, advice and a very special friend – a giant red squirrel who, with the garden’s resident fairy, ensured that the kids were entertained.

Of course, there was also an abundance of the now renowned Ardentinny home baking to take away or wash down in the spacious tea tent and for a glimpse at the far and nearer past, there was an audio/visual record of the garden’s progress to date.

Among the visitors was MSP Mike Russell who had this to say about the day:

“The walled garden has become a tremendous asset for the community and the amazing progress made since I was last there is a huge testament to the hard work of so many. The open day was tremendous fun and very informative and it was good to see so many people from outside the area there and keen to participate. All those involved deserve a great deal of praise for what they have done, not least for creating such a peaceful and positive space which touches many lives.”

The garden will have its last regular opening to the public this Saturday from 11am until 3pm. and will reopen at Easter 2014. However, during the winter months, Glenfinart Walled Garden will be open to volunteers and groups and individual visitors are welcome to come along by appointment. Those interested in visiting the garden during the winter should call 01369 810275 or email info@GlenfinartGarden.org.

[Click image to enlarge]

Courtesy: Reporting Scotland/BBC

Fruitful Partnerships for Strone and Glenfinart Walled Garden 

On the 18^th September, 2013, Duncan, Sky, Sarah, Mrs Brown and Mrs Brayshaw from Strone Primary School together with Merle Ferguson from Glenfinart Walled Garden Project went to the Scottish Parliament Building to celebrate Holyrood Apple Day. Only three schools in Scotland were invited to the Scottish Parliament Building along with different community groups.

While we were there, we offered people free apples and postcards with apples on them. A lot of people took the apples but not so much the postcards. A while after, the three of us got our photos taken by a photographer. Then Sarah was covered in apples for a national newspaper article.

At about 12:45pm we went into the Parliament Building to display our apples and apple flapjacks, which we had made using the apples that we picked from the Glenfinart Walled Garden. The apples and flapjacks were amazing and the display was fabulous looking with all the apples in the baskets. Strone Primary got a Wee Apples Award for coming along and helping out at the Glenfinart Walled Garden, working in partnership with the garden and their team of volunteers.

After the awards we went and had some lunch then we went on a tour around the Parliament Building. Our tour guide took us to see a model of the Debating Chamber and then explained where all the MSP ‘s sit. Our tour guide then took us to the front desk to collect five tickets for us to go into the Debating Chamber where we saw Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and Mike Russell. It was very interesting. We couldn’t understand why the politicians were allowed to shout out when people were talking, it wouldn’t be allowed at Strone!

Shortly after we all went home with a marvellous apple each.

We had a wonderful day and learned a lot and would like to especially thank all the people at Glenfinart for working with us when we visited the garden.

Written by Duncan, Sky and Sarah
Strone Primary Eco Representatives

Glenfinart Walled Garden’s fruitful partnership with local Strone Primary School has been in the news recently when the three pupils who are Strone Primary’s Eco Representatives were invited to the Scottish Parliament to celebrate Holyrood Apple Day.

The event, which brings together apple growers and enthusiasts from Scotland’s rural and urban areas, celebrates the fruit’s heritage. Strone School was one of only three Scottish Schools invited to attend. Earlier in the week Eco Representatives,  Duncan, Sky and Sarah picked the apples in Glenfinart Walled Garden which were later displayed in Parliament. After receiving a “Wee Apples” award, the group toured the building and attended a session in the Debating Chamber.

On the right is Strone Primary’s Eco Representatives’ account of their day in Edinburgh.

At the Ardentinny Community Trust Annual General Meeting earlier this week, the outgoing trustees outlined the Trust’s achievements over the previous 12 months. In this the first full year since Glenfinart Walled Garden had been acquired for the community, Convenor Bill Williamson highlighted the following:

– A timber cabin was purchased and erected. This facility is used for meetings and welcoming visitors to the garden. Two storage sheds were also added as well as a polytunnel.
– A vegetable production garden was created with produce being sold at Blairmore Farmer’s Markets.
– Emma and Sophie Thompson became patrons of the garden.
– With the help of Forestry Commission Scotland, community volunteers and National Park volunteers, part of the garden was cleared and an orchard planted.
– An experiential and educational Children’s Garden has been created.
– The garden received many visitors over the year including representatives from The Royal Horticultural Society.
– John Hancox, Chair of Scottish Orchards, advised and participated in the establishment of the orchard at the garden and has developed an excellent partnership with Strone Primary School, which is ongoing.
– In May, Beechgrove Garden representatives gave a presentation to the community, prior to the Walled Garden Project being chosen as their Community Garden. It was the first time in Beechgrove Garden’s 35 year history that the programme was transmitted nationwide. The Trust also received the services of a garden designer and funding towards plants. None of this would have been possible without the support of local businesses and volunteers.
– The Trust has been represented at several Cowal community events over the year including “Little Acorns” at Hunters Quay. Directors also visited other community gardens.
– Funded by Voluntary Action Service  (until December, 2013), the Trust has acquired the services of a professional gardener/volunteer coordinator.
– A monthly newsletter is now distributed to all households in Ardentinny.

The garden has had the services of the H.E.L.P., one day a week throughout the summer. This assistance will resume in the Spring. The Community Service Payback Team has also helped throughout the year.

In the Treasurer’s Report, Dennis Gower reported that the Trust accounts were healthy in March, 2013, however there had been heavy expenditure since then. Trust subscriptions are used solely for Trust business and not garden-related expenditure. Grants had been received from LEADER, which requires 50% match-funding as well as Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Argyll and Bute Council and Forestry Commission Scotland.

The Trust now has a full complement of Directors with three new Trustees being elected. They are Lynn Kerr, Linda Naismith and Ian Kerr who join the previous Trustees Bill Williamson, Merle Ferguson, Dennis Gower, Anna Williamson and Jimmy Gordon.

In response to a question from the floor, Bill, Dennis and Anna outlined future plans for the garden including funding for the restoration of the wall; future fundraising events and the development of the children’s area. The Trust is very encouraged by the promises of future support received from schools, nurseries and the Outdoor Centre.

Merle Ferguson explained the criteria that has to be met related to the Voluntary Action Service funding of the gardener post as well as the Trust’s desire to encompass all the Cowal community from the very young to the mature resident as well as the disadvantaged. She also outlined that other than  “digging the garden” there is a wide range of activities that volunteers can get involved in, such as garden guides and fundraising.

The committee thanked all those who had generously donated their professional services, equipment, and time.

As Anna Williamson said “What an amazing garden the community now have. Just one year on and what a positive effect it has had on all. Visitors come from far and wide and there has not been one unenthusiastic comment in our visitors’ book. Instead, they are uplifting expressions of encouragement, admiration and enthusiasm.”