New health project designed to improve fitness through gardening
Almost anyone can now have a go at gardening, thanks to a new health project at the recently opened Bridgend organic allotment site at Craigmillar Country Park.
In the first-ever partnership project between the Council’s Parks unit and NHS Lothian, a community allotment health project has been set up on the site.
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Now 16 people are receiving the benefits that gardening provides.
The health project, which is run across four plots, is for GP- referred patients and ideal for people who want to get fitter, those who want to meet and work with other people outdoors, or simply want to have fun while learning something about growing their own fruit and vegetables.
In fact, it’s even for people who want to just sit and watch the garden grow!
The scheme is managed by two on-site horticulturists, who are at hand to dispense help and advice where needed.
However, the community allotment health project only has funding for a pilot year so the hunt is now on for funding which will allow it to continue its good work.
The 58 individual plots at Bridgend, all of which are now occupied, were opened at the end of June.
The site uses only organic cultivation techniques, the first such Council site to do so, and is a demonstration of good practice in allotment development and sustainable management.
The site boasts several features which contribute to sustainability, including rainwater collection and an environmentally-friendly composting toilet, which needs no connection to the main sewage system.