It is a pleasure to report that Garthdee Field has retained its Outstanding rating following the recent visit by Steven Shaw, our current IYN Assessor.
Here’s how Steven’s report sums up our year in 2023.
Areas of achievement:
Garthdee Allotments Association continues to develop and grow. They are an outstanding Its Your Neighbourhood group.
This group should be congratulated on their Green Flag status. They are one of only two allotments in Scotland to achieve this award and they should be very proud of this achievement.
The group are welcoming and very enthusiastic. It is obvious they love what they do and have real pride in what they have achieved to date.
The idea to recycling and repurposing old, vintage tools is tremendous, and I look forward to hearing more about this.
The new cabin is fantastic and an asset to the group.
Garthdee Allotments Association is an absolute joy to visit and a very special place. It is an outstanding Its Your Neighbourhood group and deserves all the plaudits that come its way!
Congratulations on such a fantastic site and well done to everyone involved.
Recommendations/suggestions from your assessor:
- Continue to engage with young people of all ages. The work that is being done with Kaimhill Primary School is fantastic.
- The community and volunteer days are great.
- Continue to work with and communicate to all plotters. It is important that they feel involved and have a voice.
- Continue to maintain a good rapport with Aberdeen City Council for the benefit of the allotments, and to follow up plot holders with problems.
- Continue to involve yourselves in Keep Scotland Beautiful and Aberdeen City Council’s environmental campaigns such as Clean Up Aberdeen.
- Promote the great work being done at every opportunity i.e., enter for awards, involve local media.
Steven’s recommendations and suggestions are especially helpful and will frame our efforts and activities in the coming year.
Thanks go to all our plotters, volunteers, friends and partners who helped us achieve this outstanding success in 2023.
Next year GFAA will celebrate its tenth year in the IYN competition. Let’s make it a year to remember!
Read Steven’s full report in this download
