FARE Scotland are a grassroots charity whose aim is to tackle poverty and improve people’s aspirations, working with children and families within disadvantaged communities .  FARE Lochend Community Allotment in Easterhouse, Glasgow has grown from strength to strength since starting in just April of this year.

In April there was just the odd dandelion, strawberries and a cherry tree, and now six local school groups have their own raised beds where, once a week, they sow , plant, dig, and learn all about growing their own vegetables. The crops are harvested by the children and taken back to school to be cooked and devoured, with some taken home for their families to cook. With lots of winter veg growing it is great for children to see that food can grow 12 months of the year. 

The feedback from schools has been very positive as there are a lot of children attending the Allotment who have anxiety, and children with ASN, and the Allotment has a very calming effect on them. The six schools (FARE Play nursery, St Clares Day nursery,  Lochview nursery , Oakwood Primary , St Benedicts Primary , Lochend Community High School ) each achieved their Level 1 award from RHS Campaign for School Gardening in September.

                

Every child has a say in what things they would like in the Allotment. The children have created two wildflower areas, a Japanese garden, a patch full of different berries, a sensory herb garden, a hedgehog house, a bug hotel and lots of upcycled cartons to feed the array of wild birds. They have a fairy garden, mud kitchens made from pallets, and a frog pond under construction. It has been an exceptionally tough couple of years for some of the children who have lost family members, so they have created a small memorial garden where they can sit and reflect.

Lead Gardener Susan Wilson says proudly

"All our children were so excited to appear on STV News in September, and are now signing autographs!"

In such  short time they have achieved a great deal:
Shortlisted as Best Community Garden in UK-wide Cultivation Street
Level 4 'Thriving' status in Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards
Level 1 RHS Campaign for School Gardening awards
Glasgow Times Community Awards shortlist

There's no resting on laurels though! The children are 'Springing into Action' and planting bulbs with the help of a £250 grant from Volunteering Matters Action Earth, and making pressed flower cards and calendars, moss wreaths and fairy worlds from chip shop pickle jars for their Christmas fundraiser. Let the magic continue.