West End gardens scheme gets compost gift

Dec 18 2012 by Lynn Jolly, Paisley Daily Express

A Paisley community is digging in to ensure enthusiastic gardeners get a cracking start to the new year.

And the community allotments have been given a boost thanks to a gift of 18 tonnes of compost.

Last year, residents in Paisley’s West End secured a lease for two Renfrewshire Council demolition sites for use as growing grounds.

And they received an early Christmas present from Scottish Water, who delivered the 18 tonnes of recycled compost to the Sutherland Street allotments.

West End Allotment Association secretary Ross McCartan and Paisley West & Central Community Council chairman John Wilby helped shovel the load on to 70 raised beds.

Mr Wilby said: “This compensates for the seven-month wait for a water stand pipe and will give us a great start to next year’s growing season.”

The Sutherland Street Growing Grounds project will see green-fingered Buddies being given the chance to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

The project was spearheaded by the community council with support from the allotment association, Renfrewshire Council, environmental group Carts Greenspace and Linstone Housing Association.

And a £21,000 cash injection from the Climate Change Challenge Fund helped speed up development.

Steve Edwards, project manager of CartsGreenspace in Paisley, said the project – on a site meant for housing – is a Renfrewshire first.

The council also pledged £6,500 in kind to the project, which involves creating 15 gardening plots, each with five raised beds for growing.

With the help of Renfrewshire Council’s waste management department, the community council is also managing a pilot kitchen caddie scheme that recycles vegetable and fruit waste for allotment compost.