Turning a Kirkcaldy garden into a training ground ...

Launch of the new community training garden. From left: Jackie Vural, project co-ordinator, Greener Kirkcaldy, Aileen Horn, Greener Kirkcaldy, Wendy Reid, development manager Trust Association Scotland, Dave Wann, treasurer KCGA, and Suzy Goodsir, chief executive, Greener Kirkcaldy. Pic credit- Fife Photo Agency.

Around 50 volunteers, members and invited guests came along to the launch of the new facility at Ravenscraig Walled Garden which is being run by Greener Kirkcaldy.

Wendy Reid from Development Trusts Association Scotland and David Wann from Kirkcaldy Community Gardens and Allotments, who have supported the project from the beginning, officially opened the training garden on Saturday.

Guests enjoyed spiced parsnip soup, apple cake and mulled apple juice and cider, prepared by Greener Kirkcaldy community food volunteers.

They were offered tours of the new space, including a new indoor room, and many guests stayed on for the annual Apple Wassail which took place in the afternoon to celebrate the harvest and encourage growth.

Suzy Goodsir, Greener Kirkcaldy chief executive, said: “The training garden will host a range of courses and workshops on growing your own fruit and vegetables: Growing Soft Fruit, Composting for Beginners, Organic Vegetable Growing and many more. We will also use it to run gardening activities for children, new gardening clubs and sessions for community groups. The training garden is looked after by our great team of volunteers and is part of our Community Food Hub project which will also include a training kitchen and events space at our new building on East Fergus Place.

“The Food Hub will bring people together to grow, cook, eat and learn. It will offer training, volunteer and work experience opportunities; food production and preparation; community meals and engagement on healthy, sustainable food.”