Growing Beardmore’s ‘Getting diggy with it’ project received the funds to help establish a community garden for residents of Beardmore (Dalmuir) and the surrounding area.

The aim of the community garden is to provide opportunities for local people to get to know one another better, learn about horticulture and the environment and how to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

The group secured a 15 year lease for an unused area of common ground at Beardmore Place from Link to enable them to apply for funding. Link also provided £2000 in funding to allow residents to start gardening while they waited on the funding news.

It is hoped that the community garden will house a range of raised beds of different sizes to grow vegetables, a children’s garden area, a seating and learning area, storage for tools and equipment, a poly tunnel and water harvesting facilities.

The garden is will be run by tenant volunteers with support from Link and West Dunbartonshire Council staff. Growing Beardmore aims to have the community garden set up by Spring 2017.

Rose Dornan, chair of Growing Beardmore, said: “It’s been exciting getting the Lottery funding and we’re looking forward to having a community garden for all tenants on our doorstep. We want a beautiful and productive space to meet neighbours, learn to grow vegetables or where we can just relax and enjoy the fresh air.”

June Green, director of housing services at Link, said: “We have been working with Growing Beardmore over the last year to help achieve this community garden. We are delighted to have been able to assist with this project and are keen to encourage and sustain the community spirit which undoubtedly will improve people’s lives.”