Category: Glenfinart Walled Garden

Minutes of Ardentinny Community Trust AGM 31 July, 2012.

 

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.

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.

Last Thursday, 26^th July, there was a pleasant surprise at the Walled Garden for young volunteers from Exp12 Scripture Union who came from their summer camp at Benmore with leader Scott Reynolds from Islay.  The sun shone and there was not one midge to chase them away!

The youngsters were  invited to explore soil health and drainage, search for invasive species  (knotweed, ragwort and fireweed (rosebay willowherb), and pile up goatwillow for chipping.   They did this with enthusiasm, cheerfulness and fun on one of the few truly sunny days of this summer so far.. Through this website we are sending them many thanks and good luck for your futures.

Did anyone know that that you can eat the young leaves of fireweed and young shoots can be cooked like asparagus?

Merle Ferguson.

The task of clearing the ground for the poly tunnel and paths continues as illustrated by this photograph taken earlier today.