A rural Dumfriesshire community is to roll up its sleeves and create a self-sustaining gardening hub thanks to £30,000 from a National Lottery fund celebrating The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Adults and children have been working together at the site near Closeburn Church making a start on the garden but the cash boost means they will be able to do so much more.
Jakob Kaye, community development officer with Thornhill-based Nith Valley Leaf Trust which has been helping the Closeburn villagers, said: “This funding will give the community such a welcome opportunity to build up sustainable resilience and generate a new cohesion between all age groups. It has been such a difficult time in recent years so I am sure the planned projects in the garden will really bolster the community for the long term.”
As well as developing the gardening space they plan to run workshops, clubs and activities to bring community members of all ages together.
Jakob added: “The NVLT would be happy to hear from anyone interested in getting involved in the project over the next 18 months and are always looking for volunteers too.
The Closeburn project is one of 11 in Scotland announced this week to share in the £500,000 of National Lottery funding designed to bring communities together to celebrate the Jubilee this year. They are among 92 “impactful” community projects across the UK chosen for funding.
