The Govanhill Community Garden Group held a fun day fundraiser last and raised £1,226 and counting.

At least 150 people attended on the day and took part in the activities on offer including a raffle and tombola with prizes generously donated by the local community, plants and home baking for sale and teas and coffees to keep everyone refreshed. 

The Govanhill Community Garden can be found next to Samaritan House at 79 Coplaw Street and is open to the public to visit 7 days a week.

The space was developed as a community garden in 2015. A year later the Govanhill Remembrance Garden was founded by Kathy Reid Graham and Rosemary Kerr Scott and provides a space for people to remember lost loved ones by placing plaques on one of three memorial trees.

The garden is looked after by the Govanhill Community Garden Group and has become a valuable resource for the area hosting a wide variety of events which include men’s breakfasts and other tenant participation activities, Saturday gardening sessions with local organisation South Seeds and tree planting with the Orchard Project.

Community Garden group member and event organiser Rosemary Kerr Scott said: “It was an amazing day, organised and attended by local tenants and residents – I was overwhelmed by the amount of money we raised when we counted it.”

Govanhill Housing Association chair and local resident Annie Macfarlane added: “The amount of money raised is an incredible achievement and a real testament to what the garden means to people. In particular, the memorial trees and peace of the remembrance garden is very special, it is great to see it receive so much support from the community.”

A total of £1226 was raised on the day, with more money expected from further fundraising events, including more plant sales, and a fundraiser at the Victoria Bar.