Rattray Community Garden has 23 raised beds for planting and growing fruit and veg locally to help with the circular economy and cost of living by making more food available locally. 

Collecting water from main building and greenhouse:

3 x water butts £134.97

3 x Rainwater Diverter Kits £29.97

To support cultivation: wheelbarrows, watering cans:  £43.99 and £20.97

Progress/Activity chalkboard: £88

Signage: 3 signs @ £95 each - total £285

Installation costs £250

50% Running costs for 2024 - £960 water, £400 electricity 

Total request is £2,576

Impact

Implementing water collection and supporting running costs and equipment will bring the use of the garden to fruition alowing us to put it to full use which will include:

• planting fruit and vegetables in our 23 riased compost beds, involving locals and demonstrating how to plant, nurture and grow our own food
• working with schools and local groups/organisations on growing food locally - the garden volunteers, Blair in Bloom, Biodiversity Blair, SCYD etc
• offering the fruit and veg to volunteers, locals and selling some to help with on-going costs
• hosting events, food fesitvals, food demonstrations etc 
• demonstrating ways of collecting and using rain water which can be replicated at home thus potentially reducing water bills

All of the above is taken from the original business plan created back in 2019/20 and is aimed at providing food and knowledge to locals to reduce their food purchase costs by growing their own, allowing those without garden space to grow items and sharing the cost of growing locally. This will have a direct imapct on the local Cost of Living with the fruit and veg being made available and will have the longer term benefit of sharing the knowledge and ideas of growing your own food with the community and can be a stepping stone to create a wider, larger community farm where locals can grow and access home grown food thus reducing their food bills.

Quick Summary

Kirkmichael Community Garden are a charity, just starting out, and are looking for support to help fund the development of our garden. This money would go towards building raised beds, our welfare shed and potting/ tool sheds. We are hoping to get cracking with this work and the growing this spring, so we have produce to share with the whole community in the summer time. We have 23 volunteers lined up and the primary schools kids will have thier own space in the garden to learn about growing.

Description

is a SCIO established in November 2022, following around 1.5 years of work by our association to source land and consult with the community. We took ownership of 0.8 acres of land in June 2023, donated to the charity by a local land owner. We have a professional design, which includes community growing plots, 15m polytunnel, area of the primary school and scouts, wild flower area, sensory area and a large welfare shed, with potting/ tool shed.

We carried out a survey through our local newsgroup in Mid 2021 with 17 positive responses of local people, since then we held a community meeting in Summer 2023, to give a project update and carry out consultation on what the community would like to see in the garden. We currently operate a volunteer WhatsApp group which has 23 members, from this around 10 have volunteered so far with some of the initial development work. Once the garden is developed and ready for planting we plan to hold weekly volunteer session.

When we acquired the land we immediately dug a small plot with the school kids, so they could get started this season. They sowed seeds and harvested the first produce in October for their harvest assembly. Longer term, we plan to have raised beds and a small polytunnel for them to learn from, we have agreed with the Craig Loudon that the kids will work towards the RHS School Gardener Award next term, which the charity plan to support as much as possible.

We also eventually plan to deliver workshops for local to come and learn, not just for the community garden but to increase their skills for tending their own garden.

We have just been grant planning permission for the design and are hoping to get started with the main development this Spring.

Resilience

The heart of this project is about creating space so the community can grow food. Investment in this project will have an amazing, positive impact on the village now and for generations to come. Not only will the garden provide space for this it will also facilitate learning and spark interest in growing your own. We plan to have a large polytunnel also to optimise the growing season.

Within the garden there will also be wild flower areas to attract pollinators and to improve biodiversity, this work is already underway. The kids will also have a bug hotel. Kirkmichael does not have any significant outdoor space for the community, except a small seating area in front of the village shop. The garden will provide a space for outdoor community gatherings. There will also be space set aside for people to come and spend time, reflect and relax.

The garden produce will be given to our volunteer group for free, with the rest being offered to the community for an optional donation, through our own veg shack and through the village shop. Those who are adversely effected by the cost of living crisis can directly benefit from getting his healthy food from the garden. In addition, having the food available in the village could mean there is less need to travel to Blairgowrie and Pitlochry to food. 

Engagement

The community garden will provide a space for local people to come together to enjoy being outside in nature, while starting new or strengthen friendships, helping to address social isolation particularly for those who live alone in this rural area. Many people who live alone can lack the confidence to connect with others in a social setting, the garden creates a great opportunity for people to come and engage a little bit or a lot, just helping with odd jobs, so they can gradually develop stronger relationships in this setting. 

We plan to hold 2 volunteering sessions per week, where locals can come and help with the garden up keep. This will be a great opportunity for people again to connect and learn where guidance can be given on experience can be shared. We have already had a lot of interest in this, people with all level of experience and skills. We will offer the fresh, organic produce to the community as well as cooking workshops. Gathering to share recipes and good food will create a nice sense of community, health and well-being.

Community Action Plan

The best expression of local priorities can be found in the recently updated Mount Blair Community Action Plan (CAP). Amongst the issues highlighted by the CAP that align with the Community Garden project include the need to build better community involvement, spirit and resilience, better local facilities (particularly for children), the desire to tackle areas of abandoned or undeveloped land and the encouragement of projects that help establish, nurture or protect natural habitats and eco-systems.

The community survey activity that informs the CAP outcomes was undertaken in early 2022, so one huge issue it does not reflect are the effects of the tanking of the UK economy in September 2022, the war in Ukraine and the corresponding crises in inflation and the cost-of-living. These events bought the issue of increasing numbers of local households falling into food and fuel poverty into sharp focus. This has cast a new light on the ambitions of Garden which provides people with the opportunity and means to grow their own food.

This pilot project was inspired by Blairgowrie & Rattray's new town twinning with Brebieres in France, which has a Biodiversity Park where trees are planted each year for the babies born in the town that year.  The Blairgowrie & Rattray Community Council delegation that visited Brebieres was impressed by this initiative, and sees it supporting BRCC resilience, climate action and twinning endeavours. BRCC has shared it with other groups and residents in our community, who also see its multiple benefits. These include Biodiversity Blair, the Climate Cafe, Soroptimists International Perth and others.  BRCC itself lacks the resources and capacity to take this idea forward. This pilot project would help to address this issue, with a view to establishing longer-term financial viability.

This project is focused on resilience and engagement, with the long-term benefits of biodiversity and food growing, bringing about cost savings as well as climate and social benefits.  By planting a range of site-appropriate food-bearing trees, this project aims to help the climate by increasing local biodiversity, improving air quality, benefiting local wildlife.  Trees planted for each newborn in the community will create a sense of ownership of the project with the families of our newest residents.  The planting of food-bearing trees will result in free food for the community!  Sites could also be chosen which will help prevent flooding, thus reducing the financial and mental impacts of these events.

This project requires research, preparation, implementation and follow-up.

During the research phase suitable sites large and small will be identified and who owns them established. Suitable food-bearing trees for the site will be identified. The number of babies born in the town (approx 130 each year) and the best method of contacting the families to confirm how many of them would like to take part in this pilot project will also be established. Any existing local projects that might include tree planting and food growing willl be identified so as to work together and not duplicate effort. A policy for future-proofing and evaluating this project would need drawing up. This would include record-keeping (what planted, where and for whom) and maintenance plans.

The preparation phase will see an appropriate location for the first trees selected, and permissions sought as required. Advice on appropriate food-bearing trees will be sought, and trees sourced. Soroptimists International Perth, a local group, is happy to provide funding for purchasing trees. A source of slate which could be repurposed to create commemorative name plaques, as well as a volunteer to do so, have already been identified

The implementation phase is a planting event, to which the whole community will be invited.  This may involve one or more family members per tree, and other support volunteers, as well as interested members of the community. Certificates for presentation to the families.

Follow-up would include record-keeping, maintenance and evaluation as above. If the pilot project is deemed successful, plans for future funding would need to be explored.

Energy usage for the Centre will be from renewable sources through replacing gas heating with a renewable energy source.

We will convert our heating to a renewable energy source through installing air source heat pumps.

This will reduce emissions and increase our viability in providing services for the vulnerable in our community.

We want to raise awareness of our local habitat and teach people to recognise local wildlife, insects and plants and to understand their needs for survival. We plan to conduct regular mini biolitzes asking people to look out for and record items they see over a short period of time (up to 24 hours). These will lead up to a larger raising awareness event in the Wellmeadow in summer 2024 to further engage the community.

Community greenspace is important. It contributes to our mental well-being and helps us keep fit. It can help us provide locally sourced, excellent quality food. And it can help nature. More and more species, many of them once common, are threatened as habitats are degraded.  Britain has lost 97% of its flower-rich meadows, and garden birds, bumblebees and butterflies are in serious decline.

BiodiversityBlair seeks to increase the variety of life in the area to the benefit of the natural world and the people who live here.

Costs include:

National trust kits: 15 x nestbox (£13.99) and 5 x butterfly hibernation house (£18.99). Total £305

Rattray Common - solar panelled battery operated wifi system for bird box camera - 2 x £219.99 = £440

8 x birdboxes = £240 1 x Insect tower = £40 1 x Insect Hotel = £30 Feeders £50.

Supply of bird food £200

Running event - £400

Admin & finance - £170

Total = £1,705

LEARN HOW TO UPCYCLE FURNITURE

Tayside Upcycling & Craft Centre is a “Not for Profit”, Community Interest Company set up to champion the environmental and social benefits of Upcycling.

We showcase the creations of close to 40 Artisans all of which produce unique items which have been either upcycled or recycled. We also offer free advice on upcycling whilst selling all the materials customers need to embark on their own upcycling journey.

We are very proud of the impact we make in Perthshire having diverted over 50 tonnes of furniture from landfill and especially proud that as individuals and businesses aim for net zero, we are way beyond that and are Climate positive.

With this funding we hope to launch a series of upcycling workshops that will highlight the environmental and social benefits of Upcycling. We will hold some of them here in the Centre but also use a local Community Centre in order enable larger attendances. We will train attendees in basic upcycling step by step, giving each of them an item of furniture that was destined for landfill and teach them how to give it a makeover. We will explain the environmental/carbon impact of the project as well as highlight the cost benefit and affordability of upcycling, especially during a cost-of- living crisis. We will also evidence the fun and wellbeing of the creative process and how it benefits mental health as well as the pocket.

ENGAGEMENT How have we identified the demand for this your project in our community?

Based on the success of our current Upcycling outreach project (funded by Perth and Kinross Council Community Investment Fund), we have been inundated with requests on giving Upcycling workshops/courses as a direct result of the educational talks we have given. We also have visitors to our centre asking regularly if we could teach them how to upcycle an item of their own furniture. Visitors more than ever now understand the financial and environmental benefits of Upcycling but need a helping hand to start their own project. We will also lay on specific workshops for parent/child (14 upwards) sessions and group bookings as well as we already have interest from many local groups.

We will try to ensure that every person that takes part in this project becomes an advocate and ambassador for the environmental and social benefits of Upcycling. We will hope to generate more workshops once the funding is spent but make them financially sustainable whilst ensuring that affordability is not a barrier for people that can't afford them.

WASTE- reduce, reuse and recycle.  Our aims to tackle this and Affordability

With the cost-of-living crisis and the climate emergency impacting on everyone we will demonstrate how much more affordable it is to upcycle rather than buy new as well as highlight that although they may be working on an item of furniture that is 50 years old, they can give it a makeover that will last another 50 years. Not only does this divert furniture from landfill, it reduces the amount of CO2 that would have been generated in producing a new item of furniture. The Upcycling process is a very rewarding one with both physical and emotion benefits, it can be hard work at times but we will demonstrate ways around this for those not fit enough whilst showing that the design and creative element is FUN! We now have Artisans selling their own creations here that started on their journey with us 3 years ago with no experience and mental health issues and now have their own small business.

We are very confident that our project will be fully subscribed due to the number of requests we have had from our Outreach project, from visitors to our Centre as well as the many Community groups  getting in touch with us.

Our project collects surplus food from the Blairgowrie Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidl and 2 Co-op supermarkets and utilises it in several ways:

Saturday & Wednesday lunch clubs, Home cooked frozen meals, Surplus food store and Community larders

Over the past 2 years we have saved over 100 tonnes of food from going to waste. The store is open to all and offers surplus food for free or a donation to help with running costs and hance has a major impact on reducing waste as well as dramatically redcuing food purchase bills for locals.

We are applying for funding to help with the running costs of the BaRI Building which houses our store but also is a base for local mental health support provided by service providers as well as a meeting place for community groups etc. Running the building costs:

£12,500 rent £7,400 electricity

The store is open 4 times per week with people in the building to setup, run and close totalling 12 hours per week hence around 1/3 of working week. We are applying for £3,000 to help cover the rent and utilities to allow us to continue to reduce surplus food.

In November 2023 Wisecraft sadly lost access to a neighbouring green space; an area which had been utilised by our clients and volunteers since 2013 (see former green space photos document). Plans will soon commence to develop this area into an outdoor eatery and bar by a local landowner, having a detrimental impact on Wisecraft’s surrounding environment and the clients who worked tremendously hard to maintain this beautiful space, entitled ‘Wellbeing Blooms’. To maintain our green approach and establish new client led opportunities, we aim to reduce the size of our car park and create a green space for growing fruit, vegetables and wildflowers (see existing car park photos document). To help insects thrive we will establish seasonal flowering plants and plant wildlife-friendly shrubs, and take a fully organic approach. We will reuse and upcycle materials within our joinery department to build new planters. These planters will hold fruit and vegetable crops for clients’ use during our Community Cookit sessions, or for them to enjoy at home with supporting Community Cookit recipe cards. Our Healthy Lifestyle Engagement Worker will deliver workshops on ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’; supporting sustainable living skills which can be transferred into clients’ day to day lives. We will provide/support waste education and awareness as a driving change towards waste and litter. Other sustainable practices will include collecting rainwater. Lack of space and gardening expertise is consistently shared as one of the biggest barriers for clients engaging in horticulture activity. Creating this supportive space will help remove this barrier and hopefully motivate client towards considering their green approaches at home; demonstrating how much can be achieved in a restricted area. To account for condensing the car parking area we will encourage employee car-sharing, and with help from Cycling Scotland, we will embrace our new cycling initiative ‘The Pedal Revolution’.  

‘Wisecraft Blooms: Renewal & Wellbeing’ fits three criteria within the Green Living Fund; that being Waste, Resilience and Engagement. By helping our client and volunteer community to grow produce on site, engage in accessible cooking groups and enhance skills to grow/cook at home, we are also supporting with the cost of living crisis.

Earlier in 2023 we ran 6 sessions with local people showing them how to plant, nurture and grow their own fruit and vegetables and would like to repeast that again in 2024 to extend the reach and knowledge. The project provided the containers, compost and seeds and participants came along each week to learn how to plant their own which they took away to look after at home, complete the growing to fruition and ultimately enjoy the fruits of their labours! Costs cover all of the items for 20 people:

Compost & Growbags  - £250

Equipment (planters, potato bags, canes and sundries like gloves, twine etc) - £200

Seeds &Plants - £170

Admin £60

Total £680