The registered charity, which manages the Towerlands Community Centre and Farm Basket Community Larder, received £12,700 from the council’s Community Investment Fund.
They used the money to create a community garden on the grounds outside the centre, which were previously a derelict swing park.
The land was described as a “jungle” by community volunteers due to being overrun with waist-high grass.
Irene McIlwain, the association’s treasurer, said: “The garden project at Towerlands Community Centre started off as an absolute jungle with grass up to our waists but we have been able to use the CIF funding boost to fully realise our goal of creating a space for our members to come together and learn new skills outdoors.”
Community volunteers described the land as a ‘jungle’ (Image: North Ayrshire Council) The funding was used to purchase gardening tools, seeds, and materials for raised beds and planters.
The association also received assistance from Scott Brown and his team at DoverYard, who sponsored the garden, and Shewalton Incinerator Plant, who cleared, dug, and monoblocked the area.
The garden now boasts a vegetable patch and herb garden which will help the centre become more sustainable by supplying homegrown food for the Farm Basket Community Larder and other partners like Café Solace.
Councillor Alan Hill, cabinet member for communities, housing and islands, said: “This is a brilliant example of a valuable community resource that supports Irvine’s locality priorities of enhancing the skills of those in the community, improving facilities and amenities, and creating welcoming and accessible spaces to reduce social isolation.”
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