Colinsburgh Community Garden
Introduction
Colinsburgh Community Trust is delighted to announce the receipt of a substantial grant from the Fife Rural Development Fund in order to progress the 'Colinsburgh Community Garden' development idea which came out of the engagagement event with the Balcarres Estate in April 2024. This page provides more information on the project and how you can help.
Information about the Project
What the project will include
The general scope of the Colinsburgh Community Garden project is described on pages 6-9 of the Colinsburgh and Kilconquhar Place Plan. The community garden will be located within the field to the North and Northeast of Colinsburgh Primary School ('site 1' in the Place Plan).
In July 2024 the Community Trust applied to the Fife Council Fife Rural Development Fund (FRDF) for funding to take the project forward. The application was successful and FRDF allocated £18,000 to the Community Trust to purchase trees, plants, structures, tools and other materials. Colinsburgh Community Trust thanks Fife Council for its generous allocation.
The money will be used to develop:
- A Community Orchard with a variety of fruit trees suitable for our own climate providing a source of fruit to the local community and the opportunity to educate the children about fruit growing and pressing.
- A Wild Garden providing a corridor of native trees, hedgerows and wildflowers.
- A 'Kids' garden to allow children to learn how to grow their own fruit, flowers and vegetables.This will include a Polytunnel to help the children understand how the season for food growing can be extended.
- A Community Growing Space and Polytunnels for the community to grow food of all types, year round, including raised beds, a composting area and rainwater collection & storage and a small building for tool storage. Installation of an external tap would also be undertaken.
- An existing woodland walk would be developed further, adding extra trees, extending the distance the path runs and ensuring enhanced access for those with limited mobility.
- A Forest Garden would be added, incorporating an Adventure Trail with natural built shelters (from reclaimed / upcycled materials).
- An Animal Trail with wildlife habitats created (e.g. bird and bat boxes, hedgehog shelters, insect hotels etc.), with Information boards and Wildlife Cameras appropriately positioned.
When the project will be runing
FRDF requires the Community Trust to spend the grant application by the end of February 2025 with money being released across 3 stages at the end of October, December 2024 and February 2025. Project actiivities will aim to start in November 2024 and will be focussed on appropriate seasonal planting to begin with. Items for later delivery will be purchased at appropriate times and stored safely until needed. It is likely that work on the garden will continue after the end of February into the Spring of 2025.
How you can help
We need a team of volunteers from within the community to do the following activities:
- Project management and co-ordination
- Garden design and layout
- Receiving deliveries and arranging for storage until needed
- Transporting materials onto site
- Constructing polytunnels, sheds, fruit cages etc.
- Ground preparation for planting out
- Light landscaping work (paths etc.)
- Planting
- General maintenance once established
All volunteers will be supported by members of the Colinsburgh Community Trust Management Committee
A volunteer sign-up event will be held in Colinsburgh Town Hall between 2-4pm on Sunday 27th October 2024 - see the Community Facebook page for more information.
Finding out how the project is progressing
We'll provide information on the progress of the project here on this website, on the Community Garden dedicated website, and also on the Community Facebook page.
