Parents' council given a hand to turn unused Bargeddie land into fantastic community garden
Cara Creighton came up with the name and the P6 pupil's artwork was used for a sign
An unused piece of land in Bargeddie has been turned into an amazing new community garden thanks to the hard work of local volunteers.
It features an open-air classroom, 10 raised beds, and a polytunnel for growing fruits and vegetables all year round.
The new garden was officially opened at the end of April, and was delivered by St Kevin's Primary School Parent Council in partnership with Bargeddie Primary and The Safety Zone.
The project received funding from the UK Government, North Lanarkshire Council, and SafeDeposit Scotland, and community benefits support in the form of materials and labour from local businesses including Tarmac, Viridor, Keir Construction, and Clarkson's Van Hire in Baillieston.
Project partners ran a competition to name the garden, inviting children from both schools to draw a picture of a garden and suggest a name. Cara Creighton a P6 pupil at Bargeddie Primary came up with 'The Friendship Garden'. Cara's artwork was also used in the design of the new sign which was unveiled at the open day.
Colin Sharp, Bargeddie Primary head teacher, said: 'We're thrilled with the development of the community garden and are amazed at the wonderful progress achieved... This partnership has helped to build a fantastic outdoor learning space for our pupils to work together in, learn and enjoy.'
Michelle Toolan, St Kevin's Primary and Nursery head teacher, added: 'This project enhances the educational experiences we can offer our school and nursery children. There have been discussions for years about this project and it's been an amazing achievement to finally see it come together and ready for our children to access. A massive thank you to all involved.'
The project was led by Gareth James, chair of St Kevin's Parent Council, and the garden will offer endless opportunities for outdoor learning and contributes wider social and economic benefits to the community in Bargeddie.
'I would like to thank everyone involved – especially our funders, local businesses, and everyone who volunteered their time to make this vision come to life,' said Gareth. 'I hope that the children of both schools and the wider community will continue to use the garden and enjoy its benefits for many years to come.'
David Carrick, Tarmac regional operations manager (North and Central), said: 'It's important to develop and maintain partnerships in the communities where we work, so we were delighted to supply materials and time to this project. Our site is within walking distance of the campus where the two schools are located and our haulage vehicles regularly pass by, so we've got a clear presence in the area.
'We enjoy working with local community groups and schools to showcase what we do, and it also helps spark interest for future career opportunities. We want to continue giving back to the community and look forward to engaging with the two schools in the future.'
Carol Bradburn, deputy head of SafeDeposit Scotland, said: 'We are pleased to have supported St Kevin's Primary School Parent Council with a grant from our SafeDeposits Scotland Community Fund towards The Friendship Garden. I am delighted I was given the opportunity to see the garden first hand. It is a lovely space which is a credit to the hard work put in by the committee and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated by the local community in Bargeddie for years to come.'
Morene Simpson, NLC Community Partnership officer for Coatbridge, said: 'The Community Partnership Team were delighted to support this project. The project volunteers have created a real community asset from an unused piece of ground that will have real and lasting impact for many years to come'
There are plans for a second phase of the community garden, anyone who would like to get involved in supporting or funding the work can contact Gareth at the parent council.
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