Garthdee Allotments – Page 83 – Grow Greener with Garthdee Field Allotments Association

Aberdeen Greenspace Funding Success

On January 15, 2016

We are delighted to report that Aberdeen Greenspace has awarded GFAA a substantial grant to develop our links with Kaimhill Primary and other youth groups in the community while adding to the biodiversity and sustainability of our site.

Aberdeen Greenspace Trust Limited is a non-profit making Company and a registered Scottish charity (SC 030269) supported by Aberdeen City Council, The Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.

In addition to providing funding they offer us advice, planning support, materials, equipment and/or labour (through their Volunteer Group) to assist in the development of our site as a resource for local community growing and outdoor learning.

Together we hope to turn our GFAA site into a space that is more people and nature friendly, meeting local needs and improving the quality of life for plotters and members of the local community. Outdoor learning about sustainable living and bio-diversity will be a special feature of our collaboration.

Bulb Planting

By Garthdee Field

On December 7, 2015

In Events, News, Photos

Our bulb planting team on Sunday last spanned at least three generations and made short work of planting 1000 daffodils and 500 crocuses.

Thanks to Helen, Heather, Ruth, Karen, Bruce, Keith, Michael and Norman for their efforts on the day. We all agreed it was great fun being outdoors on a fine winter’s day, but retreating to the bothy for fancy pieces, hot drinks and a good natter was even better.

Thanks too, to Marion, Jacqui and Helen for the fancy bakes that put Mr Kipling well into the shade.

There are still some crocus bulbs left in the bothy. Please fee free to plant them in or around your own plots.

Food on Film Opportunity

By Norman

On December 2, 2015

In News

APPLICATIONS FOR FOOD ON FILM SCREENINGS NOW OPEN

This opportunity from Keep Scotland Beautiful has just opened up for GFAA. If any plotter is interested in taking this forward, please see Stuart in the first instance.

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Keep Scotland Beautiful is pleased to be able to offer the opportunity to host a film screening through Food on Film. Thirty successful applicants will receive a funded public screening license for their choice of three films and accompanying support resources.

Interested applicants are invited to create an event around a film screening to inspire conversations and activity exploring and discovering sustainable food. The 30 film screening licenses available through Food on Film are for public screenings, which means they must create an opportunity to build community links. The Sustainable Development Goals are a good starting point to choose a sustainable food theme such as Goal 2 – Zero Hunger or Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities.

Food on Film is open to community groups, schools, colleges and organisations. There are three films for you to choose from. Your event must be held by 31^st March 2016.

Click here for more information and to apply. Applications must be received by 24^th December 2015. Successful applicants will be notified by 7^th January 2016.

“ARE WE READY?” TRAINING WITH SCOTTISH COMMUNITIES CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK

This Thursday (3^rd December) Keep Scotland Beautiful is hosting Scottish Communities Climate Action Network who are running a ‘Are We Ready’ training. Participants will learn how to use a community engagement resource that uses the weather to get people thinking about climate change and community resilience; not only to plan for future extreme weather events and other emergencies but also to get people together to think how to build long-term community resilience as we adapt to life without fossil fuels.

The training is free (SCCAN have received funding from Adaptation Scotland to run the workshops) and available to community organisations. The day will be a ‘train the trainers’ course, so attendees will go away with the tools and knowledge to run activities with their communities.

More details and to book: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/sustainability-climate-change/climate-challenge-fund/events/ccf-events/are-we-ready-training-with-scottish-communities-climate-action-network/

Spring Bulbs

By Garthdee Field

On November 30, 2015

In News

Aberdeen Council have again this year kindly supplied us with 1000 crocus and 1000 daffodil bulbs. These are now available in the Bothy and this Saturday and /or Sunday 5th/6th December would be a good time to get them planted around our site, provided the ground isn’t frozen or snow covered!

If any plotters wish to plant some of the bulbs on or around the roadway edges of their plot or where they can be seen from the paths please feel free to take some for personal planting. All that is needed for planting is a spade and bulbs need to be at a depth of around 6inches or 150mm.

Please let me know if you plant any so we can monitor where to plant others in the future.

Bench-marking a new Collaboration

By Norman

On November 29, 2015

In News

With the help of Stephanie Morrison from RGU, GFAA have been in discussions with HMP Grampian about possible areas of mutual interest and benefit. These discussions have now borne first fruit with the creation of a fine set of benches and footstools built for us from reclaimed timber in the Peterhead workshops.

Stuart Sitting Pretty

There are two three-seater and one two-seater bench in the set, matching footrests and a splendid Japanese-style Pergola to match. Together they will make splendid additions to our site – both decorative and functional.

Thanks also go to Andy from RGU who was good enough to offer his van and time with Stuart to pick up the set from Peterhead and deliver them on site.

Andy – testing for size!

The items are now housed in the polytunnel awaiting painting. If any plotter is able to spare some time to help with this please see Stuart in the first instance.

Thanks go again to Stephanie, Andy, and all those at RGU and HMP Grampian for their help in getting this project underway. We look forward to further developments in the New Year.

New Volunteer: Graham Barron

By Norman

On November 19, 2015

In News, Photos

We are pleased to welcome Graham to our growing band of volunteers on site. Graham is local to Garthdee and found us through our involvement with ACVO.

Graham is now a regular on site, having visited a couple of times most weeks for the last couple of months. He has not yet decided if he will want a plot of his own, but Graham is happy to help out with site maintenance, tidying up around the trees, moving wood chips, repairing paths and lately, raking up leaves.

If you see Graham about on site, please come over and say hello. Or, if you have a project in mind on your plot you would like him to help with, please get in touch.