We are trying to track down the owner of this trailer. Please get in touch (07702127346 or gfaawebhelper@gmail.com) if you can offer any information.
The Community Climate Asset Fund (CCAF) is a funded programme from Scottish Government run by Keep Scotland Beautiful. CCAF aims to:
- Build on the invaluable role that community based organisations are playing in Scotland’s response to COVID-19
- Support community groups to play a prominent role in the Green Recovery
- Provide capital funding to community based organisations to help them tackle climate change as we accelerate our just transition to a net zero society
- Complement funding provided through the Climate Challenge Fund and other community and place based initiatives
- Help communities to reduce usage of petrol and diesel cars, cut waste, grow local food and reduce emissions from community buildings.
Following an application made in November, GFAA is pleased to announce the award of just over £3000 for the purchase of capital assets for our allotment. Our bid centred on making our operations greener by:
- the retention of rainwater to reduce the amount of tap water used
- increased use of a wider range of compostable materials produced on plots
- reducing the amount of plot waste burned on site
- increasing the contribution our community makes to producing more locally grown food.
The award has enabled us to purchase a small wood chipping machine which we will use to chip prunings from around the site and so reduce the amount of material being burnt and hence the amount of carbon produced.
We have also purchased 1000 litre rainwater storage tanks which we will use to reduce the consumption on site of town water supplies.
If you are interested in getting involved with any of these activities please get in touch with myself or any member of the Committee.
Increasing composting and reducing the amount of green materials burned were recommendations made in our recent Green Flag Award evaluation, and it is very pleasing to be able to make a start on this agenda thanks to the CCAF funding.
In the year of our first Green Flag Award, we are also pleased to have these.
Thanks to all those plotters, volunteers and friends whose contributions and efforts make these successes possible. We literally could not do it without you.
Irene’s persistent insubordination caused a wee bit of a fracas amongst the volunteers this week, but all was resolved by a traditional duel in the rain.
In the end nobody got shot, not even a deer (yet).
In between we even managed to get some work done.
The new bin will be used for grass cuttings in the coming season. Plotters are welcome to take them at add to their plot compost bins. They are great for generating heat in a new pile – when used sparingly.
All in all it has been a great week and our volunteers have again excelled themselves in their efforts on our behalf. Thanks go to all involved.
We have suffered from a wee spate of thefts from plots over this season – rather more than for many years. Items taken include: tools, bird feeders, a bicycle, compost bins, hoops and coverings, hoses, produce, etc.
So, a word to the wise, please be aware the problem seems to be ongoing and therefore it is worth taking a bit more care. Also, if you do lose something, please:
- let a member of the committee know so we can monitor the scale of the problem
- inform the Police in the case of a break-in and theft
- as I say, take additional measures to take care of what you can.
If you have practical ideas that would enhance our site security we would be delighted to have them.
Mrs Ingster and family have a surplus of apples this year and generously thought plotters and volunteers might have a use for some.
Please feel free to help yourselves from the Octagon.