Dig this! Community garden worker wanted

Lottery funding has potted enough money to pay a community gardener’s wage over three years at a project sprouting up in Bunessan.

Volunteers, with help from other funding, have already sown the seeds by clearing a tangle of willow and rhododendrons on a plot of land in the grounds of Ross of Mull Historical Centre to make way for the outdoor community hub.

Creating garden for the community to use has been a long-time ambition in Bunessan, said Philip Yield who is community forester at Tioran and part of the South West Mull and Iona Development organisation which is excited to be recruiting a part-time gardener for

athe project. Anyone interested in the 20-hours a week job has until Sunday April 18 to submit their online application. Go to https://swmid.co.uk/recruiting-for-community-garden.../

The right person for the job will be responsible not just for running and developing the garden as well as working with users and volunteers but also for coming up and organising exciting events and activities which get the community hands-on.

Pre-school youngsters already visit the garden with their families, primary school

Volunteers working in Bunessan’s community garden.

children have taken on a vegetable bed as part of a nature club, the Mull and Iona ranger runs activities and there is a plan to work with high school age students to build a pizza oven.

There will be something for everyone, said Philip, including gentler wellbeing opportunities.

‘It still looks a bit like a building site but it’s going to be beautiful by the time it’s finished,’ he added.

The garden is close to a stream and there are mature trees near it.

Funding from Argyll and Bute Council helped buy tools and pay for sessional workers in the early days of the scheme.

Another donation generously boosted that work and £4,000 awarded via the Community Climate Asset Fund, administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, was a great help in paying for timber and materials used to build raised beds and make compost bins.

‘There is a big social element to this project, bringing people together outdoors,’ added Philip.

If recruiting goes to plan, it is hoped to have the new gardener in his or her wellies and ready to start by June.