Council Leader Donald Anderson will tomorrow officially open the Bridgend Allotment Site at Craigmillar Country Park with the help of celebrated Edinburgh chef and restaurateur Tony Singh.
The initiative at Bridgend is a demonstration of good practice in allotment development and sustainable management. It is accessible to a wide range of people, and includes areas where raised beds can be custom built for disabled gardeners and optional half plots.
The site was constructed and is cultivated using only organic cultivation techniques, the first such Council site. It hosts 58 individual plots, all of which are now occupied and there is already a substantial waiting list.
Tony Singh has commented on the benefits of buying and eating organic but also growing organic. “It has been proven time and time again that consuming organic produce is the healthiest option when it comes to many types of food. By growing your own produce you are providing yourself with the best of fruit and vegetables. This is of course enhanced by the sense of achievement you feel having grown your own food successfully.”
In the first ever partnership project between the Council’s Parks unit and with NHS Lothian, a Community Allotment Health Project has been set upon the site and now 16 people are receiving the benefits that gardening provides. This is a referral scheme for social and therapeutic horticulture which is managed by two on-site horticulturists, who are at hand to dispense help and advice where needed.
Brian Cavanagh, Chairman, NHS Lothian said; “This project embodies the philosophy and spirit of our Community Health Partnerships and we are delighted to be involved with it.
"The health benefits of eating fresh fruit and vegetables are well known as are the therapeutic advantages of gardening and the social interaction this type of environment offers. We are certain it will provide a great deal of enjoyment for the local community.”
The Community Allotment Health Project only has funding for a pilot year so the hunt is now on for funding which will allow it to continue its good work.
As Bridgend is a demonstration of good practice it has a number of features which contribute to sustainability - rainwater is collected for use in watering plots to save on the treated mains supply; an environmentally–friendly composting toilet, which needs no connection to the main sewage system; over 60% of the plots are let to people living very locally so many can walk to the site. In addition, the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society manages a special garden on the site to demonstrate horticultural techniques to budding plotholders.
Chris Collins (Blue Peter gardener) will be coming along to the evening event to give allotment holders a demonstration on what they can do with their allotments and to answer any questions they may have in relation to their individual plots.
The project joins up physical activity, healthy diet, mental and physical health and social interaction all on one site. Council Leader Donald Anderson has remarked on the initiative; “It is fantastic to see another allotment site opening in the city. We have invested heavily in our parks and public areas and it is great to see the residents of Edinburgh reaping the rewards of this work, in particular on these occasions.
“The Bridgend Community Allotment is now a forerunner in allotment best practice in the country and we hope that other allotment projects that will be undertaken in the future by the Council, will match and exceed the high standard of site we now maintain at Bridgend”.
Media Contact Moira Gibson, Media Manager for Services for Communities. Tel, 0131 529 7821
Sylvi Wilson, Media and Communications Officer. Tel 0131 529 4489
Note - A tasty organic breakfast will be served at the site to mark the occasion and to get everyone’s day off to a good start.
Background: the creation of the Allotment site was funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and the Big Lottery’s “Transforming Your Space” programme. The Community Allotment Health Project is funded for 12 months by the “Transforming Your Space”programme and supported by NHS Lothian.
