Growing together, rooted in community.

A space for learning and connection.

FARE Community Allotment

Growing, learning, and connecting since 2021.

Our journey with FARE Community Allotment began in April 2021. Since then, it’s blossomed into a vibrant, inclusive space where children, families, and community groups come together to learn, grow, and connect with nature.

2021

Allotment before.

2025

Allotment after.

What we grow.

The allotment is home to over 120 varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, including some unusual and exciting plants. With 28 raised beds, some stretching up to 20 feet, and a polytunnel, we grow all year round. We also take part in RHS Trials – Grow With It, testing which crops thrive best in our space. We’re also exploring electroculture, an innovative technique that uses natural energy to boost plant growth.

  • Who's Involved

    We’re proud to welcome a wide range of groups to the allotment each week, including:

    • St Clare’s Day Nursery
    • Lochview Nursery
    • Westerhouse Family Learning Centre 
    • Busy Bees Childminders
    • Oakwood Primary
    • Lochend Community High School
    • Enhanced Nurture 
    • Wider Achievement 
    • Duke of Edinburgh Award
    • The Daffodil Club
    • The Jaggy Nettle’s Men’s Group
    • Family clubs
    • Volunteers
    • Platform to Employment (GKC)

    Each group has a dedicated time with Susan Wilson, our resident gardening expert, to sow, grow, and harvest their own crops. 

  • Learning through nature

    Our allotment is more than a garden—it’s a classroom without walls. Every visit is packed with hands-on learning and joyful exploration:

    • Nature crafting and painting with petals
    • Bug hunting and birdwatching
    • Singing nature songs with actions
    • Storytelling adventures like Going on a Bear Hunt
    • Building bug hotels and bird feeders from recycled materials
    • Messy play in the mud kitchen—fizzy mud pies and petal soup!
    • Annual Maths in Nature Week
    • Litter picking and environmental care

    All activities are aligned with the Curriculum for Excellence, blending education with outdoor play and wellness.

    The children experience the full cycle of nature—from sowing seeds to harvesting crops. 

  • What we've created together

    Thanks to the dedication of Susan, our volunteers, and the many children and families who visit, the allotment now features:

    • A sensory garden
    • A wildflower meadow and rock garden
    • A quiet sanctuary for birdwatching and reflection
    • A mud kitchen for messy play
    • A secret forest garden and imagination corner
    • A rainbow vegetable patch bursting with colour

    These spaces are designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and calm.

  • Award Winning Impact

    National & Regional Awards
    • RHS 5 Star School of Gardening Award
    • Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society Award
    • Honouring Susan’s significant contribution to gardening and horticulture in Scotland (2025)

    Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards 
    • Engaging Children & Young People Award
    • Growing Community Award
    • NatureScot “It’s Your Neighbourhood” Pollinator Friendly Award
    • Hero Award – Spring Clean Scotland

    Featured Recognition
    • National Case Study Filming — By RHS & Keep Scotland Beautiful

    Media & Public Recognition
    • Glasgow Times Community Champion – Schools Category Winner
    • RHS & BBC One Show – Merit for Growing Communities Award

    Creative Gardening Competitions
    • Scone Palace Pallet Planter Competition — Silver and Bronze Awards

Want to grow with us?

Looking to get involved? Email susan.wilson@fare-scotland.org to get in touch or email volunteering@fare-scotland.org to discuss volunteering opportunities in the allotment. 

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