Thistle Foundation Community Garden

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Project Summary

The Thistle Foundation Community Garden is a community garden, linked to the Thistle Foundation in the heart of Craigmillar. Initially a wasted and underused space within the Thistle complex, the Edinburgh Green Belt Trust worked with staff, trainees and volunteers to transform it into a vibrant, colourful and educational area for people to sit and relax, take time out, garden and enjoy nature.

Since its creation, the garden has developed much further and with the help of residents and volunteers, fruit and vegetables are now supplied to the cafe. It also serves as a location for outdoor courses and therapy and has been instrumental in developing greater links with the wider Craigmillar community who also have access to the grounds. Since opening, the garden has received many visitors interested in seeing for themselves how successful such a project can be.

History/Background

The Thistle Foundation provides residential accommodation and a variety of services to enable people with mobility problems (and their families) to live independent lives, integrated with the local community. The concept of a community garden came from a group of residents who saw the potential in transforming an unused space into a community garden.

As the wildlife benefits of the garden were a fundamental element, the Edinburgh Green Belt Trust was approached for help with designing and creating the garden.

Planned Outcomes

The garden will be accessible for all residents and open to all of local community.
The garden will meet the needs and interests of the residents and attract uses from the broader community.
The garden will be safe, attractive and a place where people want to spend time.
The garden will be an important part of the Thistle and will be known to the wider community.
The garden will be used to promote healthy eating. Gardening and use of the garden for relaxation will have a therapeutic benefit.
The development and future use of the garden will involve residents and local people.
The garden will be part of both the Thistle and the wider community.
Residents and the local community in one of the most socially and environmentally deprived areas of Edinburgh will be engaged in the project and develop an attractive and usable environment

Outcomes Achieved

The garden is accessible to all residents and open to the people of Craigmillar.
The garden is used for full range of activities by residents and is attracting users from the wider community.
The garden looks fantastic and is widely and regularly used. There has been no vandalism or unacceptable use of the site.
The garden is recognised, used and respected by residents and the wider community.
The community garden now includes an area for growing vegetables for use in cafe etc. A gardening club has been set up for residents as an occupational therapy.
The planning, design, creation and management of the garden has involved, and continues to involve, residents and the local community.
The garden is recognised, used and respected by residents and the wider community.
The community garden project led directly to the employment of a new staff member to coordinate its use and management. The garden has been used to support the development of the community cafe.
Local residents and wider community were involved through the whole process and developed an attractive and highly successful community garden which is used, respected and cared for.

Site Location

Thistle Foundation
Niddrie Mains Road
Edinburgh
EH16 4EA Link to Google Maps
Map Reference : NT278715
Notes : Access via Garden Cafe, open to public

Local Authority Area(s): City of Edinburgh.

Contact Details

Contact Name	Contact Email	Web Site
Esperanza Martin	Click to send	Click

Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust
Laundry House
Dalkeith Country Park
Dalkeith
0131 654 1933