Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Fairmuir Park hosts ‘edible garden’ for community
A NEW community garden has opened its gates in Dundee.
Local partners in the nationwide Dandelion project have come together to launch a summer programme at the Fair Growing Green in Fairmuir Park, signalling the beginning of its new role as an edible community garden.
The project is designed as a celebration of growing, music, art and community spirit firmly rooted in Scotland but with an international outlook and sustainability at its core.
The aim is to re-establish sustainable spaces in the heart of local communities and is commissioned by EventScotland and funded by the Scottish Government.
It is also the country’s contribution to Unboxed: Creativity in the UK, described as a celebration of creativity across the UK in each sector.
Unboxed features 10 multi-site and digital creative projects that share new ideas and possibilities for the future.
Dandelion is just one of them, aimed at creating a more sustainable and environmentallyfriendly future.
The creative food growing project has been brought to Dundee by partners in the city, including Dundee University, Creative Dundee, Dundee City Council and community group, Friends of Fairmuir.
Friends of Fairmuir were at the heart of redeveloping the formerly derelict space.
The group formed in response to the potential sale of public land, believing the green space should remain.
The ambition was that a community garden would be put in place to bring people together again.
The project is now laying down its roots in the city to bring the neglected community asset at Fairmuir Park back to life.
The space has lain empty for some time and amid concern the area could be lost to developers, the former bowling green is now being reimagined as one of Dandelion’s Unexpected Gardens, where the public can come to together to grow, sow and share food and flowers.
All the events being hosted are free, and the public are being invited to visit the garden and join in with the range of creative activities, which include lunchtime picnics, foraging and harvesting.
Locals are also welcome to try the free garden produce and one-off activities such as biodiversity identification and tree planting.
Musicians in residence will also bring the groove to each Unexpected Garden.
In Dundee, local musicians Claire Gorman and Mark Urban work together as St Kilda Mailboat.
After a small tour of community gardens across the city, they are now hosting Sunday workshops at Fair Growing Green to develop a collaborative performance with communities.
Mel Woods, professor in creative intelligence at Dundee University, said: “Bringing new life to this space is the culmination of a lot of hard work.
“The bowling green is such an integral part of the area but has sadly lacked a defined role for some time.
“Dandelion’s Unexpected Gardens aims to rectify this.
“Now as we open the garden and launch the creative programme, we want to welcome local residents and visitors to the space and share this vibrant asset as well as create a legacy for Friends of Fairmuir.
“Their hard work and campaigning have created the potential for us to build a shared vision, which is really exciting.”
As well as a space to grow fresh produce, the rejuvenated space will become a hub in the community for hosting creative workshops, community food events and music making workshops.
The programme will come to a finish between September 9 and 11, joining similar events at other Unexpected Gardens throughout the country.
Eilish Victoria, emerging creative producer at Creative Dundee, said: “It’s wonderful