Heal the Earth – Ayrshire

The Ayrshire Branch of Heal the Earth have commenced a fantastic new long term project within the grounds of the Dean Castle Country Park in Kilmarnock.  The Walled Garden had remained unused and forgotten over the last 100 years until this group received funding from the Natural Scotland Climate Challenge Fund. This has enabled Heal the Earth to take out a lease of the Walled Garden to allow them to grow their own fruit and vegetables organically.

This is a Community Garden and as such is open to all local members of the public who wish to participate in any way. From simply doing a little weeding to more strenuous tasks. The choice is yours!

The project itself is a wonderful way to get to know like-minded people who seriously want to reduce their own personal carbon footprint as well as saving money by growing their own food. Once you have tasted food you have grown yourself be warned – supermarket produce will appear to be tasteless and very expensive.

You can also pop over to the Walled Garden to pick up some free advice on how easy it is to grow vegetables in your own space be it a large enclosed garden or a small window box. If you have ideas to start your own group check out some of the methods used in the Walled Garden and learn about eco-friendly living.

Heal the Earth Ayrshire is managed by Jenny Brown (01563 520904) and Jan Sinclair (01563  543533). The group meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at The Cabin, Glebe Road, Kilmarnock between 7 pm and 9 pm.

URsTV wishes to say a huge thank you for being invited to meet some of the individuals who make up the Ayrshire branch of Heal the Earth.  The group met today, Sunday, between 10 am and 2 pm to build some raised beds and prepare them for planting. Jenny showed us the plans for the proposed layout of the garden and this area is huge!

Undaunted by the sheer scale of this project, the members got stuck in to their individual tasks and seemed totally oblivious to the intermittent showers. Admittedly, the sun and blue sky did re-appear just as the allotted time was drawing to a close, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves regardless.

A warm welcome is given to anyone who wishes to join in or simply find out what the group are up to and perhaps borrow one or two of their ideas.

URsTV will be returning to The Walled Garden later in the year to find out how their various works have progressed.

See the next page for more photographs!