£50,000 Windfall for Food Growing Projects

Community gardens, schools, churches and local development trusts are better off after successfully applying for financial support from the council's Let's Grow Together Fund which is part of the council's Food Growing Strategy.

Castlemilk High School plans to buy new equipment, repair its polytunnel and double the size of its on-site educational garden after receiving over £4000 from the fund.

Pupils from S3 and S4 grow fruit, vegetables and flowers while working towards John Muir awards and Level 4 SQA Rural Skills. They cook the produce during Home Economics classes and enjoy eating the homegrown meals. Any garden waste is also used to make compost to grow next year's crops.

Ten extra raised beds will also be built to double the school's growing space.

Teacher, Douglas Weir, who leads the gardening project, said: "The school is delighted to have successfully secured an award of over £4,000 from the Let's Grow Together Fund.

"The money will be used to buy new tools and create additional raised beds which the pupils will build, fill with soil then cultivate.

"We run classes for S3 and S4 students in growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. The young people work towards a John Muir Award and Level 4 SQA Rural Skills.

"The young people learn and implement valuable skills. They learn how to use a wide range of tools and set up watering and irrigation systems. They learn to plant, grow, nurture then harvest a wide range of crops."

Pupil, Brandon Tomlinson (aged 15), is aiming for a career in horticulture after getting involved in the school's gardening project.

He said: "I really enjoy working in the garden. I'm currently attending college to study horticulture on day release from school two days a week and want to go on and do another landscaping course after that.

"I've built some planters at home and plan to grow potatoes there next year. I'd really like to have my own gardening and landscaping business in the future."

Councillor Angus Millar congratulated all the organisations which successfully secured funds from the Lets Grow Together Fund.

He said: "It's great to see so many growing projects thriving across the city and in particular, to see young people gaining qualifications which will help them pursue careers in horticulture."

The full list off successful projects is:- Anderston Green Spaces, Barmulloch Community Development Company, Budhill and Springboig Allotments, Castlemilk High School, Cranhill Development Trust, Cuthbertson Primary School, Eco Drama, Merrylee Primary School / Parents Association, North Glasgow Community Food Initiative, Saheliya Community Garden, Springburn Gardens Association, Linkes, St Mark's Church, St Margaret's Church and St Mungo's Academy.