Whitburn’ s new community garden is taking root as one of the pioneers in a new county- wide food growing strategy that echoes a return to the Good Life.
But the only similarity to the famous TV sitcom is the enthusiasm with which the scheme has been met in the town.
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Volunteers at the town’s Community Development Trust are serious when it comes to developing a resource which can bring emotional as well as physical nourishment to local people.
The Trust secured funding from the Scottish Government's Town Capital Grant Fund and the West Lothian Town Centre Improvement Fund to create the community garden in the grounds of the town's community centre.
Now, with raised planting beds in place along with polytunnels and tool storage, they are ready for the first growing season.
The community garden will contain a variety of features including a food growing area where produce will be made available to the local community fridge project.
Other features are set to include a sensory garden and a wild flower meadow which will include a therapeutic space for people to recuperate, a learning zone full of exciting things to touch and smell whilst being fully accessible for all users.
The overall space is designed to be one where people will be able to share knowledge, such as how to grow fresh food, how to support wildlife, how to improve the local environment and much more.
As well as looking to benefit the wider community, it is also hoped that the community garden project will see participants get the positive mental and physical impacts that are often associated with volunteering.
The CDT has already developed a successful Community Fridge which is supported by local supermarkets. Alongside pre-packed food they also hope that the community garden will boost their offer of fresh locally grown fruit and veg.
The Trust’s Community Development Worker, David MacDonald said: “Through both our community garden and Community Fridge project, Whitburn and District Community Development Trust are striving to reduce food waste in our community by redistributing surplus food from local supermarkets and then ensuring that any waste is being used to compost to make more soil for our raised beds.
“We are also excited for our first growing season to be able to grow some fruit, vegetables and flowers at a local level to then be available to the members of our community fridge project, working towards a cycle of sustainable food growing and distribution at local level.”
West Lothian Council has joined other local authorities in signing the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration in a further commitment to reducing carbon emissions at a local level.
The Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration brings together local and regional authorities from across the world to speak with a unified voice in committing to putting into practice integrated food policies to tackle the climate emergency.
Launched at the UN COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow, the call encourages national governments to take joined-up action on food and climate.
Locally this commitment will see the council enhancing its work with local organisations on initiatives which promote sustainable food production which can also benefit local communities.
Through the West Lothian Food Growing Strategy, West Lothian Council has outlined its support to all forms of community food growing, from allotments and community gardens to community planters and fruit trees in public spaces.
Local councillor, and depute leader of the council Kirsteen Sullivan said: “By signing the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration, West Lothian Council is further demonstrating its commitment to looking at how the environmental impact of food production and consumption can be mitigated and improved upon.
“Food production and consumption is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. One way we can look at this at a local level is to support and promote the sustainable growing of food in our own communities. The Whitburn and District CDT community garden will be a perfect example of this where fresh food will be grown locally in a sustainable environment with the added bonus of supporting those most in need in the local community.”
