Eglinton Community Garden provides a range of therapeutic activities for community use and directly supports people with learning disabilities, mental health issues, ex-offenders, older people, veterans and those experiencing drug and alcohol problems.
Based in Kilwinning, the facility provides all members of the community with learning opportunities related to gardening, growing food and cooking.
It enables individuals to learn new skills, tools and coping mechanisms and promote positive changes in health, diet and lifestyle.
The Ayrshire Community Trust (ACT) is part of a collaborative of agencies working together, including North Ayrshire Council countryside ranger service, The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), Turning Point Scotland, Health and social care learning disability team and North Ayrshire alcohol and drug partnership.
The garden is used by the Positive Steps team to provide a stimulating environment for their participants.
Supervisor Diane Clancy said: “The garden has been going since 2014. It has been helping volunteers to come out and getting into a good space.
“People who have maybe not been out of the house for a number of years can do individual projects or help out as part of a group.
“We maintain the flower beds and in the past we have grown produce and once it was ready they could take some stuff home to cook, including potatoes, onions and garlic and cook it at home.
“We are planting radishes and potatoes and, in past years, we have grown produce in the beds and once it's ready, people can take stuff home to cook.
“We are planting a lot of flowers at the moment and that’s what we hope to do in the summer, to add quality to the garden. It’s just about maintaining everything.
“Last year, people donated vegetables which we were able to use and we passed some on last year to the Food Bank which we plan to do again this year.
“This project gives people a purpose, just a feeling they can make a difference. People hope to use this as a platform to help them gain employment.”
Grant Cameron now works with TACT after joining as a volunteer through the Positive Steps scheme.
He said: “I really enjoy working with TACT and started two years ago, winning a volunteer award last year. I show around new people who come in to help. Flowers and vegetables are my favourite things to plant.”
Volunteer Donna Shedden said: “I started in January 2022 and reached out to TACT through the job centre as I was in a bad place mentally.
"But I have just started a swim teacher course and plan to teach children and adults. This place calms you down as you’re in an environment where we all have had simil;ar experiences. You can come along and just chat to people if you don’t feel like doing anything.”
James McGhee, who has been volunteering for nine years, added: “I love building plant boxes and also like showing round new people.”
Rhion Mills, a community development student at the University of Glasgow, commented: “My course is about creating inclusive spaces and leaving everything at the doors which is what we do in the garden.
“This is my second year here and I did my HNC here. I hope to be a community practitioner. I chose to come back for my final year placement."
Organisers supply volunteers with waterproof clothing and gloves.
Anyone who would like to help should visit https://www.tact.scot/community-garden
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