In the garden

With the sun shining, and life bursting out all over, many of you will already be in the thick of garden planning and planting. For those who may need a bit of inspiration or expert advice we have created a display of gardening books, covering all aspects of horticulture from choosing garden plants to expert advice on growing vegetables and herbs .  

For many in Stromness, living 'crammed into that huddle of stone between Brinkie's Brae and the sea'*, access to garden space is limited or unavailable, however the Stromness Community Garden project offers a solution. 

The aim of the project is to:

to offer affordable growing spaces for the local community within a supportive environment. The aim is to provide a dynamic community space combining allotment style plots, a communal polytunnel, a community garden hub and areas of wild and shelter belt planting. Membership fees are low (£5 per annum) and rental on plots is offered at a rate per square metre, designed to attract gardeners who wish to work a small plot as well as those who want to work on a bigger scale. Concessions are offered to older people and disabled people as well as to students and those on lower incomes. Members are not compelled to have a plot and can enjoy the communal garden.

The Community Garden is situated on the Brownstown Road and below is a site plan, and photo showing the shelter belt which has already been planted:

Shelter belt planting progresses after fencing, hardstanding and shed in place (March 2014)

This Saturday  (17 May) there will be a workday at the community garden from 9am-1pm, when all who can are invited to come along and help to lay the ecopaving for the car park area. 

Details of how to become a member of Stromness Community Garden Society are available on their website.





*George Mackay Brown,  'Introduction' in Stromness:Late 19th Century photographs, (1972)