This weekend sees the welcome return of Ardentinny Community Trust’s ever popular BIG Picnic at Glenfinart Walled Garden. The annual event, which began in 2015, has of course had to take a break over the past couple of years. However, it’s back again with the full line-up of the ever-popular Elderly Brothers providing live music.
As a precaution, the garden won’t be offering its usual selection of teas, coffees and home baking. However, everyone is encouraged to bring along their favourite picnic snacks and refreshments.
With so much to explore around the garden including the kids’ garden, sensory garden and orchard, it’s going to be a great day out for the whole family… and don’t forget that entry is free!
A quiet but veritable force! Dennis Gower (above, during filming of Beechgrove Garden) and Merle Ferguson are heading to pastures new but many in Ardentinny will remember their considerable contributions, not least their extended hand of friendship!
Merle (right) with Anna Williamson raising funds for the Walled Garden
Though ‘retired’ for a while now, Dennis served on the Community Council for over 10 years and was the first advocate of harnessing local hydro power for the benefit of the village. Ultimately Forestry Commission Scotland (as it was then) opted for the current arrangement.
He was also a vociferous member of the Community Council’s working group in opposition to the National Park’s plan for 36 additional houses in the village centre. The Park finally acceded!
But it was possibly the campaign to buy, the successful purchase and subsequent development of Glenfinart Walled garden where he and indeed Merle, contributed most significantly. Dennis spearheaded the initial survey of village opinion on the community purchase of the garden with 77% of residents voting in favour. This also harnessed a range of views on how the garden could be used which informed future planning.
2010: Dennis with a £500 cheque he won for the walled garden at a ‘Dragons Den’ presentation in Campbeltown
Merle too is her own formidable force! A village hall committee member during several ‘administrations’. She was instrumental in saving it from closure in 2017 and saw it through a successful building repair programme and an expanded offering of activities and events.
Merle also worked on the Community Trust while it was undertaking the project to restore the old Stronvochlan arched bridge but it was her contribution in its revived state as secretary of Glenfinart Walled garden that saw the strength of her vision manifest itself locally.
In the early days she was an enthusiastic fundraiser and fact finder. However Merle’s ingenuity really kicked in when the garden was struggling to emerge from a walled field to its current state.
Glenfinart Walled Garden 2013
The remedy – an application to Beechgrove Garden to develop and feature our garden in their programming. We never looked back!
She went on to develop the garden’s orchard with Glenfinart Apples reaching The Scottish Parliament.
Merle’s touch is also evident in her book ‘Bird of Solace’; her peace work ; her art; and no doubt several local club anecdotes!
One of Merle’s artworks’
It is therefore with warm good wishes and enormous thanks that we say ‘awrabest’ to them both.
Ardentinny Community Trust’s Glenfinart Walled Garden was one of the recent recipients of £3000 generated by Ardentinny’s share of the 3 local hydro schemes. The funding award was to upgrade the paths within the walled garden to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and those using walking aids.
Hydro funds are administered by Ardentinny Renewables Trust (ART) to fund local community projects. The latest contribution from the Hydrover hydro project for the past 12 months was £6008.
In addition to the garden funding, £500 was approved for the car park toilets as well as £100 towards a village day held in the hall. Funds currently available for local community projects are £15,200.
There was lots to do and entertain at Glenfinart Walled Garden’s Easter Fun Day last weekend. It kicked off with an exciting egg hunt followed by its now famous Easter Bonnet competition. There were all-engrossing egg and spoon races for the young and older and a fiercely competitive show of strength in the Tug o’ War.
A variety of stalls; a busy burger bar and tea room; plus live music provided by talented locals who also tend the garden’s raised beds, completed the picture.
Ardentinny Community Trust is grateful to all who contributed and worked so hard to make the day a huge success and which raised an amazing £1,561.
Many thanks to Brian Kerr for providing the excellent photographic and video coverage.
This Sunday Glenfinart Walled Garden hosts its annual Easter Fun Day. The fun kicks off with an Easter egg hunt at 12 noon, followed by egg and spoon races at 2 pm and an Easter Bonnet Parade at 2.30pm.
There’s also kids plant-a-sunflower, coconut shy, LIVE music, stalls, plants, Barbecue, teas, coffees & drinks plus Ardentinny’s famous home baking.
Come along and enjoy the day. Entry is free and everyone is welcome!
