Mauchline Community Action Group has received a £39,496 cash injection for the Mauchline Community Growing Garden

Mauchline Community Action Group got news that it has received a £39,496 cash injection from SUEZ Communities Trust for the Mauchline Community Growing Garden.

The group wants to transform an underused area of land in the centre of Mauchline, by creating a community garden that will provide a local growing space for fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers.

It will comprise of a series of raised beds of varying sizes and depths to accommodate a range of users, a polytunnel, container grown fruit trees and bushes along the western boundary, an area for wildlife, a rainwater collection system and composting area, a BBQ/fire pit, seating and covered area for socialising and bringing the community together; all of which will be linked by a wheelchair accessible path.

The garden will become a community hub, bringing together different individuals and groups, from all ages and backgrounds, to share knowledge and skills around gardening, horticulture and food growing.

Tom McVey, a trustee for the Mauchline Community Action Group, who is leading the project said: “Following a community wide survey and the production of a five year action plan, a number of projects were identified as being beneficial to the village and the wellbeing of everyone in Mauchline. This growing garden project will enable all residents to make use the garden, providing the opportunity to grow fruit & vegetables for their own use and for the benefit of others. We have endorsements from the Primary School Parent Council, the Horticultural society, the Community Council and other originations within the village”.

Marianne Ivin of SUEZ Communities Trust added: “This project is a wonderful initiative that will bring the whole community together in a fun and educational way, we can’t wait to see the garden completed”.

SUEZ Communities Trust provides funding awards through the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund – an important source of funding which came into effect in April 2015. The scheme is linked to the Scottish Landfill Tax and encourages landfill site operators to provide contributions to approved bodies, who can then pass the funds onto community and environmental projects.