A DISUSED yard off Dumfries High Street is to be transformed into a community garden.
The space behind 111 and 113 High Street has become forgotten, overgrown and full of debris.
But now Midsteeple Quarter (MSQ), which owns the properties, has secured a grant from The National Lottery Awards For All Scotland to clear the area, with multiple organisations creating a community taskforce to make work possible.
Dumfries Academy teacher Stephen Mohan is the volunteer project coordinator, working alongside MSQ’s community engagement activator, Kathryn Hill. Stephen said: “It’s great that The National Lottery is getting behind us – and that there’s so much support in the town for what we’re trying to achieve.
“I’m really excited about turning this disused patch of land into a vibrant green space, helping the community and the environment.”
Pupils from Dumfries Academy will be turning old bins into planters for use in the garden, while work to clear the area takes place.
They will be used to grow food and plants, with cuttings for growth already being prepared by the community.
As well as Awards For All and the school, the project’s partners are: Lolliography, The Guild Dumfries CIC, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Dumfries Men’s Shed, Catherine Street Inclusive Play Park, Oasis Youth Centre and The People’s Project
Commenting, Councillor Ian Blake said: “This is a great initiative that will provide a valuable community garden space from what is, at present, an overgrown jungle and only a few metres from the High Street.
“The idea of creating planters from old bins and similar items is certainly in line with our reuse and recycling message.”
For more information about the community garden project or to volunteer email Kathryn Hill at: [email protected].
