MSP in the Limelight to open shared garden
A GALASHIELS nursery was highlighted when its garden project was officially opened by Jim Hume MSP.
Staff, parents and children of Limelight Nursery, plus staff and volunteers of New Horizons Borders, and Vicki Ferguson of the Federation of City Farms and Trellis (FCFT) gathered at the facility to celebrate the launch of the community garden.
Limelight Nursery says the garden is used by the nursery children during the day, while in the evening and at weekends it will be worked on by members of the mental health project, New Horizons Borders.
Lisa Archibald, service manager of New Horizons Borders (NHB) said: “Having the opportunity to access outdoor space and gardening opportunities has been so important for our Galashiels drop-in.
“A cut in funding from NHS Borders last year led to us having to give up our community garden in Newtown, which was disappointing for everyone at NHB. We are most grateful to Limelight for their support with our joint project.
“We also would like to thank Community Food and Health (Scotland) for their grant which made this project possible.’
People can self-refer to NHB. The Galashiels group has 38 users. People can come along during drop-in open times and there is always room for new people.
Lisa continued: “The beauty of the group is that people who are suffering from mental illness get a chance to see that recovery is possible, through peer support.”
In the Borders there are New Horizons groups at Peebles, Hawick, Galashiels, Langlee, Kelso and Duns, with future ones planned in Eyemouth and Burnmouth.
Borders MSP Mr Hume said: “What the New Horizons Borders team have done over the years is more than just provide a drop-in service. They have created a community. And that community, as the New Horizons declaration states, aims to ‘empower each other through self-help and mutual support’.”
The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG)supports community farms, gardens and allotments, and Trellis supports therapeutic horticulture in Scotland.
For more information on creating a community garden or if you need any support in this area, contact Naomi Knight on 0131 1623 7058, email naomi@farmagarden.org.uk or info@trellisscotland.org.uk, or phone 01738 624348.
The FCFCG is funded by the Scottish Government and Marks & Spencer.
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Weather for Galashiels
Saturday 25 May 2013
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