Dig in to help garden flourish

Crieff Community Garden is flourishing thanks to the hard work of local residents, school pupils and community groups.

The hidden gem at Monteath Street is currently an oasis of colour and tranquillity.

A path winds through the length of the garden, which has become a place fo learning, relaxing and enjoyment, with all members of the community invited in.

Residents of local care homes and the less able can enjoy pottering about in the easily accessible raised beds and pupils from Crieff High School have been maintaining their own plots.

The community payback team has helped with heavier jobs in the garden and have created a beautiful feature seating area at the far end. And all along the path there are benches where people can sit and enjoy the greenspace.

The work has been overseen by a small committee but new volunteers are needed to continue taking the project forward.

There is still enormous potential for areas still to be transformed and community garden chairperson, Sally Graham, is encouraging more locals to come on board – whether it is to be a part of the committee or just volunteer a couple of hours a week to lend a hand with whatever tasks they can manage.

She said: “It’s a three year project but it’s been done in a year and a half really. Credit must go to Craig Finlay and Trevor Rae who were involved with the garden at the start. We are just following up their good work. Craig did a huge amount at the start putting in hundreds of donated plants to ensure the garden would have colour whatever the season.

“It’s been worth all the sweat that has been put into it though and is looking great at the moment. It would be nice to get more volunteers to help keep the garden going now.

“I would encourage everyone to come down. Bring a picnic and enjoy the surroundings. Have a walk around and participate if you would like to. It was just a bare field at the start but it’s looking lovely now. The wild flowers are starting to come through in the wild area; we have fruit trees. RTS and Trojan have been fantastic, helping with creating raised beds, and there is a kids’ section, which we are currently working on.”

Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, was impressed with garden when she visited recently. She told the Herald: “Despite the typical Scottish weather it was great to meet with volunteers from the community garden to discuss their work and see the fruit of the labour first hand.

“Sally Graham and the rest of the team have done a great job of turning previously derelict land into a beautiful facility which can be enjoyed by the whole community. I’d encourage all of the local community to support their work by donating any excess perennials, bulbs or shrubs they have to the Monteath Street site.”

Donations of plants, bulbs, tools and other gardening equipment are always welcomed as are volunteers.