West Lothian residents in towns and villages have pulled together to help each other.
And one of the biggest and brightest results of the that pulling together is Whitburn’s Community Garden.
The grounds of the Community Centre have been transformed since 2021 as the space has flourished to become a thriving hub producing food and improving surroundings
Now with a part- time co-ordinator, Clarissa Moditz, to promote the work of the garden it is opening up to many more people in the town, including local schools.
The idea of growing and sharing together was first sown in 2021. Early support from local businesses helped the town’s Community Development Trust establish planting at the site and volunteers over the years have helped it grow.
Volunteering sessions are Monday and Thursday afternoons from 1pm to 4pm and all are welcome.
At a recent presentation to Whitburn and Blackburn Local Area Committee David McDonald said: “We grow fresh fruit veg and flowers, available to the community either at the Community Garden or through the Community Fridge This year we grew and distributed around nine tonnes of food through the community garden.
“We compost all our garden waste to create our own compost. We also use surplus food that is no longer suitable for our community fridge along with paper and cardboard – thus reducing our carbon footprint and having a positive effect on the environment.
“The community garden not only supplies fresh fruit and vegetables to the CDT’s community fridge, but it also plays a crucial role in helping to develop valuable gardening skills amongst community members. This initiative not only enriches local food resources but also fosters a spirit of collaboration and learning, as people of all ages can come together to cultivate the garden, share knowledge, and enhance their horticultural abilities.”
Whitburn Academy pupils helped to install a pond at the site to improve biodiversity.
The garden has around 25 volunteers who contributed 332 hours in the last quarter of the last year. Their work was celebrated, along with that of volunteer on other CDT programmes at a barbecue held in the garden. The garden has also hosted community events including a pumpkin picking last Halloween that attracted around 250 visitors.
The appointment of Clarissa last year has proved vital to the garden’s ongoing development. She has engaged with local schools, attracting 225 pupils from Polkemmet, St Joseph’s and Whitdale primaries in the last year. Clarissa has also engaged with corporate and community groups and boosted volunteer numbers.
In his presentation to the local area committee David said: “The garden plays a crucial role in helping to develop valuable gardening skills amongst our community members.
“This initiative not only enriches our local food resources but also fosters a spirit of collaboration and learning, as people of all ages can come together to cultivate the garden, share knowledge, and enhance their horticultural abilities.”
By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter
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