Bulb planting

Date: Monday 6 November

News Release November 2023

Bulb planting sessions at new community garden

The new Rattray Community Garden is to host two bulb planting sessions in collaboration with award-winning environmental group Blairgowrie and Rattray in Bloom this week.

Open to everyone, the events will take place at the new facility off Balmoral Road in Rattray on Thursday, November 9th and Saturday, November 11th, at 11am.

For the last three years, volunteers from Blair in Bloom have been planting bulbs to deliver to members of Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust’s Saturday Lunch Club on Christmas Day as a special festive treat.

This year, local residents are being invited to come along and plant some Christmas narcissi at Rattray Community Garden.

Everyone who gets involved will be able to plant bulbs for others and take home a pot or two of their own if they bring along a favourite planter or bowl.

Rattray Community Garden is based in what used to be a walled garden for Mount Ericht House and has been home to Blair in Bloom for a number of years.

The event is one of a number of activities lined up by those behind the new facility that aim to raise awareness of the community garden, encourage people to get involved in its development and raise funds to support its maintenance.

The aim for the garden is to create a welcoming, relaxing area for people of all ages where local groups can meet, supporting health and wellbeing, reducing social isolation, developing gardening skills, and observing wildlife.

Lesley McDonald from Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust now looks after the Trust’s core projects and has recently become involved with the committee tasked with looking after the community garden.

She said: “We’re very excited to now be at a stage where we can begin to welcome lots of people to Rattray Community Garden, and are looking forward to our bulb planting sessions with Blair in Bloom this week, particularly after the disappointment of having to cancel our Harvest and Hallowe’en festival this year due to the severe weather last month.

“The bulb planting will take place in the polytunnels in the garden, and if you would like to plant up a pot of bulbs for yourself, please bring along a favourite bowl or planter, up to 20cm in diameter. We will supply compost and some decorations to add to your pots, although there will be a small charge for bulbs and compost. We would also appreciate it if you could book a place on the sessions by emailing us to help give us an idea of numbers.

“Festive refreshments will also be available to kick off the seasonal celebrations!”

Blair in Bloom chair William Wilson added: “We are delighted to get involved in this wonderful initiative once again and show our support to others in the community.

“Hopefully the bulbs will provide a taste of early spring for those involved with the Saturday Lunch Club - and everyone who comes along to help - when they flower.”

Since the land was purchased by the Trust, a small team of volunteers has been working towards ensuring that the site is safe and accessible for the wider community. Utilities have been installed at the site, the polytunnels have been refurbished, a new greenhouse has been built and the relevant permissions required to start refurbishment work on one of the buildings have been secured. Potential sources of funding for the building work are currently being explored.

Working with Paul Hodge from Nature’s Delight Walled Garden between Alyth and Meigle, volunteers are busy working on developing compost production and the cultivable area at the garden, collecting grass cuttings and donations of cardboard from around the town, and building beds.

There will also be an opportunity for those interested in getting involved with the development and maintenance of the community garden to walk around the site and discuss what can be done with members of the committee on Saturday, November 11th, at 1pm.

Other upcoming events and activities at the community garden include a tool swap in January and a fundraising quiz on February 2nd.

To book a place at the bulb planting sessions this week, email info@rattraycommunitygarden.org.uk

To find out more about Rattray Community Garden, including how you can get involved in supporting the work it is doing or how you can benefit from the new facilities, follow the Facebook page by searching for ‘Rattray Community Garden’.

Alternatively see the new website at www.rattraycommunitygarden.org.uk or email info@rattraycommunitygarden.org.uk

ENDS For further information or media enquiries, please contact Clare McMicking on 07514 343 042 or clare@craicncommunications.scot

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