Support Girvan's Community Garden

Make It Happen

'Make It Happen', a voluntary community group based in Girvan who are creating a community garden, is appealing to people across South Ayrshire to help them secure funding of up to £394,000.

By simply voting for the group when a Primetime BBC2 programme is broadcast on the 1st September, between 8:00pm and 8:30pm, you could help them to secure massive funding from Primetime BBC Scotland and the Big Lottery Fund initiative.

The Primetime programme focuses on people over the age of 50 and the contribution that they make to their communities, it also highlights what can be achieved when people from all age groups work on projects together.

Founded by three mature students in 2007 'Make It Happen', whose motto is 'creativity for community well-being', provide opportunities for people to become involved in creative projects. In the autumn of 2007 they organised a meeting to see if enough local people were interested in transforming a piece of land into a community garden. There was great enthusiasm for the project and 'The Community Garden Group' was formed.

The piece of land, formerly South Ayrshire Council's plant nursery, is situated behind Knockcushan House, (previously known as the Town House), overlooking Girvan Harbour. The site is enclosed by 10 foot high walls and had been unused for 30 years. The Council has agreed a long lease of the land to 'The Community Garden Group'.

The group has already been working to clear the overgrown area by removing tree stumps, piles of glass from old glasshouses and other debris. Two local unemployed people have now passed their LANTRA training certificates on mini-diggers and they have been able to use their new skills to help clear the site. People as young as 16 have been helping and older members of the community have joined in and shared their expertise and gardening experiences. It has truly brought people from all age groups together on a project that will benefit the whole community.

When completed the garden will be accessible to everyone, provide working facilities including greenhouse and workshop spaces, promote local food growing and sustainability, create a wildlife area, sensory planting space and areas to just sit, be quiet and think.

'The Garden Group' need your support as they are up against some very worthwhile competitors in the Ayrshire and South section, the other finalists are 'Lifelong Carers' and 'Time to Curl'. For information about any of the groups please log on to www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/primetime

If you would like more information about 'The Garden Group' log on to www.makeithappen.synthasite.com If you have any questions or could offer any support to the group please e-mail them at Makeithappen_girvan@yahoo.co.uk or write to them at 'Make It Happen', c/o Carrick Learning Centre, Henrietta Street, Girvan, KA26 9AL.