Gardening for Biodiversity with Greener Peebles
Greener Peebles runs a thriving intergenerational community garden in Peebles, where volunteers learn how to grow food while developing skills, making friends and building confidence. With a grant from Destination Tweed’s Community Grants Scheme, Greener Peebles was able to run weekly sessions to support gardening for biodiversity, create a wildlife trail, and enhance the garden space with interpretation, seating and artworks.
Weekly gardening sessions led by Greener Peebles’ Community Growing Coordinator provides volunteers with a wide range of opportunities for learning and participation throughout the year, with activities varying according to season. While growing – and sharing – food is one of the group’s primary aims, they also aspire to garden in a way that results in biodiversity enhancements and creation of habitat for wild flora and fauna.
Central to the project was the creation of new artworks for the garden: a mural, co-designed by the community and created by artist Glen Leslie, adds colour ; and beautiful carved basins provide water for wildlife while enhancing the space.
A new nature trail, created with community contributions, provides information and inspiration for visitors to the garden: from ‘Precious Water’ to ‘Hedges, Edges and Wild Spaces’ and ‘Soil is Alive’, the interpretation panels share Greener Peebles’ gardening philosophy.
Total project costs: £9356.90
Destination Tweed contribution: £8487.00 (90%)
49 gardening sessions delivered over 12 months
4 mini beast safari sessions
2 creative community consultation sessions
2 community events
210 people engaged with the project
75 volunteers contributed over 1000 hours to the community garden during delivery of this project
“I would never be able to afford a workshop like this. I so appreciate it being financially accessible to me”
“My favourite part in the summer is the herb garden, it’s so amazing”
“Since coming (to the community garden), I’ve been really inspired to do more in my own garden”
“You’ve given me so many ideas for a new garden session I am starting at work”
“I’m going through a lot of stressful things at the moment. Coming to the garden is really my only respite”
Feedback from Greener Peebles volunteers
You can find out more about Greener Peebles and opportunities to get involved over on their website
The Community Grants Scheme was made possible by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland.
Find out more about Destination Tweed’s Community Grants Scheme