A Perfect Planting Day

Teresa showing planting techniques

Teresa and Andrew demonstrating planting techniques

Planting volunteers tagged ‘their’ bushes and trees

Space for a bench against the garden fence

Ready for action

Volunteers planted the hedge with lightning speed – we were done by lunchtime

Maggie Taylor, our local councillor, turned up to help too!

Brand new kelly kettle was put to good use making hot drinks

Hedge planting in full swing

Heads down hard at work

Everybody hard at work

Container shed was almost completely clad in wood.

Almost done!

Ariana’s bush

Andrew was working the kettle

 Photos by David Vallis

On Sunday, the 6th of March Tayport Community Garden held their first planting day.

Around 50 adults and children attended this Mother’s Day special event and helped to plant fruit trees and fruit bushes. Andrew and Teresa, PLANT Growing Coordinators, were on hand to offer advice and make sure that the plants were well spaced and organised.

One hundred apple trees and a fruit hedge of over 200 black currant, white currant, raspberries, blackberries and gooseberry bushes were all given a lovely new home by local residents. Wellies were out in force and the new shovels and tools did a great job. Dave explained the wonders of the new Kelly kettle which worked a treat and visitors also had a go on the surprisingly high speed cargo trike. Thankfully Andrew discovered that the trike has  a very wide turning circle just in time to avoid driving through the new polytunnel.   The polytunnel will be used for planting as well as providing a great space for workshops on a range of gardening and wildlife topics.

The raised beds will be going in over the next few weeks and a range of community groups will be getting involved to ensure that the garden grows from strength to strength. Louis Forgan from Tayport’s People First was also on site and will be working with the group to ensure that the garden has good access for all.

It is amazing to see the ongoing transformation of this piece of ground into a brilliant community resource.  Fruit and vegetables from the garden will be used in the Tayport Cafe and other local venues to reduce our local carbon footprint and help spread the word that growing  locally produced food is something we can all be involved in.

Thank you again to all who helped with planting of the fruiting hedge! And thanks to Nicky McIntyre, Earlshall gardener, for a generous donation of currant and goosberry bushes for the hedge.

If you feel inspired to plant some of your own fruit trees and bushes, you may find the tips from our gardening workshop on the topic helpful – here is the workshop report.

If you are tempted into getting involved in the garden, have a look at more volunteering information here, contact us via email on plant@tayportct.org.uk or simply turn up at one of our weekly sessions or events. Next up is a Tayport Community Trust open eventing for PLANT on 24th of March, 6pm to 9pm at the Harbour Cafe – it would be great to see you there:)

You can keep track of what’s on by subscribing to our Facebook Events page (available only for those with Facebook accounts) or visiting Events page on this blog.

 Jenny Glen, volunteer blogger