South Kintyre Development Trust and members of its Kintyre Grows project team travelled to Ayrshire late last month to gain growing knowledge from a large-scale community garden there.
Organic Growers of Fairlie community garden boasts 181 outside beds and 134 polytunnel beds, with the green-fingered work of almost 170 members helping turn post-industrial spare ground into one of the west of Scotland’s most impressive community food and flora hotspots.
The Trust’s visit was organised by Inspiralba, the business support and community-oriented charity which like SKDT is also based in Campbeltown – with the principal aim to learn what makes the Ayrshire site such a success story in community growing circles, and how that can be replicated in Kintyre’s largest settlement.
Eric Spence, trust manager, was part of the travelling group, and said: “The learning exchange was set up by Inspiralba and a number of organisations were there, including Grow Food Grow Dunoon and from Inverclyde, too.
“It was a very fruitful experience and we shared insights, ideas and solutions with other community growers throughout Scotland.
“We were able to see how volunteers organise themselves, and how various resources such as compost and seaweed are shared amongst the growers.
“It is always valuable to see any potential issues but equally, opportunities, in building the community garden network here in Campbeltown and wider Kintyre in the future.
A spokesperson for Inspiralba, talked about the reason behind the visit, saying: “The exchange, fully funded by the Scottish Community Alliance featured a tour of the garden and presentations from all four hosts (Organic Growers of Fairlie, Grow Food Grow Dunoon, Grow 73 and Inverclyde Shed) and time for Q&A afterwards.
“We chose Fairlie’s Community Garden as it is very well established, and quite central to those coming from more isolated locations so it seemed ideal. We also wanted the learning exchange to have a rural focus and Fairlie fitted that well.
“We were delighted to invite along several urban-based growing groups to examine the differences, and similarities, between community growing in urban and rural spaces.”
