Community garden will transform hidden pocket of Dumfries High Street

A disused yard off Dumfries High Street is going to be transformed into a new community garden.

The space behind 111 and 113 High Street has become forgotten, overgrown and full of debris.

Midsteeple Quarter (MSQ), which owns the properties, has secured a grant from The National Lottery Awards For All Scotland to clear the area - with an array of organisations creating a community taskforce to make work possible.

Well-known Dumfries Academy teacher Stephen Mohan is the volunteer project coordinator, working alongside MSQ’s community engagement activator, Kathryn Hill.

Stephen said: “It’s great that The National Lottery is getting behind us - and that there’s so much support in the town for what we’re trying to achieve.

“I’m really excited about turning this disused patch of land into a vibrant green space, helping the community and the environment.”

Pupils from Dumfries Academy will be turning old bins into planters for use in the garden, while work to clear the area takes place.

They will be used to grow food and plants, with cuttings for growth already being prepared by the community.

As well as Awards For All and the school, the project’s partners  are:

• Lolliography

• The Guild Dumfries CIC

• Dumfries and Galloway Council

• Dumfries Men's Shed

• Catherine Street Inclusive Play Park

• Oasis Youth Centre

• The People's Project

Some of the project supporters in front of the close leading down to the new garden. From left: Andy Zieleniec (Catherine Street Inclusive Play Park), Kathryn Hill (Midsteeple Quarter), Rebecca Masterton (The Guild Dumfries), Councillor Ian Blake (Dumfries and Galloway Council), Aldo Marletta (Dumfries Men's Shed), Laura Mackay (Lolliography), Ross Williamson (Dumfries and Galloway Council)

Kathryn added: “We’re extremely grateful to everyone who’s getting involved. This is going to be a great asset for the High Street. We can’t wait to see the transformation complete.”

The garden will be yet another positive from 111 High Street - which has become a vibrant home to Flourish and Lolliography - after being taken into community ownership through Midsteeple Quarter.

Its theme will be reduce, reuse and recycle.

Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee, said: “This is a great initiative that will provide a valuable community garden space from what is, at present, an overgrown jungle and only a few metres from the High Street.

“The idea of creating planters from old bins and similar items is certainly in line with our reuse and recycling message.”

Councillor Ian Blake at the entrance to the close leading down to the garden site

Once a contractor has cleared the area, volunteers will set to work on creating the garden, which Midsteeple Quarter hopes will become a relaxing green space as well as another reason for people to visit the High Street.

Wooden benches and trellises will be made for the area, while the close leading to it will also be tidied up and made more attractive, potentially including a mural.

There are lots of jobs to do on this project and we’d love to hear from anyone interested in helping by volunteering.  To find out more, please email Kathryn Hill - kathryn@midsteeplequarter.org.