The ambitious Glenfinart Walled Garden project took a major step forward this week with the installation of a 24 square metre log cabin. The building will be used as the main administrative centre for the project.
Trust Convenor Bill Williamson said “2012 has been a remarkable year for Ardentinny. With the support of the community and our funders, we have acquired this historic garden and are now on the way to returning it to its former glory”.
Despite the freezing conditions on Tuesday, the crew from Forest Craft completed the cabin build before nightfall. Volunteers from the village also braved the elements to dispose of the recently felled birch trees and goat willow.
Over the coming weeks the group will be planting some 30 fruit trees in the garden as well as fitting out their new premises.
The Trust would very much welcome additional help. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Bill or Anna on 810238, Merle or Dennis on 810220 or Jimmy on 810170.
Work in progress: polytunnel, small shed and foundation for large timber building.
Ardentinny Community Trust this week published its first newsletter which has been distributed to all village residents. The update follows the progress of the garden from March 2012 to the present. Highlights from the year include the acquisition of the garden in late March; an Open Day at the Village Hall in May; clearing of part of the site in June; the agreement for Emma and Sophie Thompson to become patrons of the garden in August; and the construction of a small shed and polytunnel frame in November.
Throughout the year Trust Directors have also made several visits to similar projects throughout the UK and there have been visits to the Walled Garden by horticultural professionals in an advisory capacity. Before Christmas, the Trust hopes to have new fruit trees in place as well as the completion of the large timber shed.
With much work still to be done, the Trust would very much welcome additional volunteers. If you are interested, please contact Bill or Anna on 810238, Merle or Dennis on 810220 or Jimmy on 810170.
Ardentinny Community Trust displayed its Glenfinart Walled Garden project at the Hunter’s Quay Holiday Village ‘Small Acorns’ environmental event on Sunday 8th August. In addition to the information video and leaflets, there was a Wish Tree where young and old alike could hang their wishes for the garden. Among the many wishes for sunshine, rain and strawberries, two of the most memorable were one from a three-year-old who wished for ‘compost’ while a ten-year-old boy felt ‘a million pounds’ was what the garden needed most.
The Trust thanks the organisers for their invitation to exhibit at this wonderfully entertaining and informative event.
‘Day of Information & Imagination’ [click image to enlarge]Ardentinny Community Trust held its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 31 July, 2012. Established in 2003 and under various stewardships, the Trust has seen through projects from as small as the provision of flower tubs throughout the village to the undertaking of a feasibility study on the transformation of the long hut (since demolished by the Forestry Commission) into a visitors’ centre; the restoration of the Arched Bridge; and the recent purchase of the Grade II Listed Glenfinart Walled Garden, on behalf of the community.
While the Walled Garden is the Trust’s current project, interest in buying and restoring it dates back to 2007 when the Trust organized a ‘Day of Information and Imagination‘ where one of four proposals to be considered by the community was that of the Trust buying the Walled Garden from Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and sourcing funding to restore the Grade II listed wall. Part of the proposal included leasing the garden space to a local company who proposed restoration and use of the garden. The day was attended by Forest Enterprise, The Community Land Unit and the National Park’s Community Future’s Initiative. However, on the day, the Community Land Unit informed both the Trust and FCS that leasing community land to a private enterprise was not permissible and so, sadly, the proposal had to be abandoned before residents could give it their full consideration.
However, in March 2010, FCS advertised the sale of Glenfinart Walled Garden for which the community was given first refusal. In April of that year the Community Council registered interest in the property. As The Community Trust had since completed the process of dissolution due to a lack of board members, the Community Council appointed a Walled Garden Working Group to ascertain the views of residents. This group surveyed every household and collected and collated the results. Residents were asked if they wished the community to buy the garden and, if yes, how they wished to see it used. The majority voted in favour and their suggestions guided the initial business plan. With this result, there was a clear need for a Trust to raise funds and manage the project and so Ardentinny Community Trust was revived in response to that need.
From that point on it was a question of, first, convincing the National Forest Land Scheme Evaluation Panel that Ardentinny had a viable and sustainable plan for the garden; then, sourcing the funding to buy it, which the Trust achieved in September, 2011. All of which, and more, is documented here.
The Trust’s report for this last year includes a variety of fund and awareness-raising activities; sourcing funding for and the appointment of a project development officer and a volunteers’ supervisor and, above all, the successful completion of the purchase of Glenfinart Walled Garden for and on behalf of the community of Ardentinny.
Trust Convenor, Dennis Gower, who has steered the Board of Directors since the Trust’s revival, is stepping down as Convenor but will remain on the Board. Pauline Gordon and Anna Williamson are retiring from the Board while Bill Williamson and Carolyn Elder were proposed and seconded as new Trust Directors. In accordance with the Constitution, office bearers will be elected at the first meeting of the new committee.
