We must be doing something right... :)
Monday, 31 August 2009
Aspens, Silver Birch and a hint of Rainbow
Aspens and silver birch grace part of our Community Garden, and when onditions are right, a rainbow appears above Soroba.
We must be doing something right... :)
We must be doing something right... :)
Thursday, 20 August 2009
After flood no 6: debris and choked-up grate in Black Lynn
The worst of this morning's flood is over. As I type these lines, the sun has been shining for a couple of hours and the water has receded significantly.Debris, including a sizeable stump of wood, has collected at the foot of the tall new fence across the burn along Dalintart Lane:
Your blogger spent quite some time this afternoon removing several long pieces of wood and planking as well as more substantial rubbish, lots of plastic bottles etc., not least to make sure the youngsters in the neighbourhood can't toss this material back into the burn.The burn still flows fiercely and has been eating away at its bank, especially below the footbridge in Dalintart Lane.
Further downstream, however, there is a badly choked-up double grate that protects the entrance to a sizeable culvert.
The yellow bouncy ball in the photo below has meanwhile been claimed by an adventurous first-year High School pupil. He was going to toss it back into the burn but I suggested he take it home to his little sister, if he has one.
Flood no 6
Hello again
As you can imagine, with the heavy rains of the past two days or so, the Lynnside Community garden was once again flooded earlier this morning. Flooding has affected large areas of Argyll & Bute, with several roads closed just when the commuters wanted to use them.
School kids and workers were unable to use Dalintart Lane because the water was at least 10 inches deep.
It is the 5th such event since 10th October, 2008, and so far the 2nd worst I have observed since I arrived here in early May last year. The bad thing is that much more rain has been forecast for the next few days... It remains to be seen how much of the produce, the potatoes especially, that Graham has so diligently put into the ground will pull through without rotting.Personally, I think some mitigation work is required:
A lot of debris has been caught up by the footbridge on Dalintart Lane, some of it planking, some of it heavy wood, threatening to damage the fence erected last September.
One of the problems is definitely the fact that the modern concrete slab across the burn is significantly lower than the original (19th century?) arch; the pipes/culverts running underneath it also block debris.
While I'm not sure raising the slab to give the water more room would sort the problem, I am confident that the water would back up a lot less if those obstacles were removed.
See for yourselves -- I'm attaching a few photos and a small video clip (medium resolution so here's hoping your inboxes won't fill up too badly). Click here for a video clip.
By about 10:50, the rain had abated, and the water has receded to the extent that the lane is passable again. But this is no reason to be complacent: more rain has been forecast and the weather charts show large, deep green swathes of heavy rain coming up from the south.
As you can imagine, with the heavy rains of the past two days or so, the Lynnside Community garden was once again flooded earlier this morning. Flooding has affected large areas of Argyll & Bute, with several roads closed just when the commuters wanted to use them.
School kids and workers were unable to use Dalintart Lane because the water was at least 10 inches deep.
It is the 5th such event since 10th October, 2008, and so far the 2nd worst I have observed since I arrived here in early May last year. The bad thing is that much more rain has been forecast for the next few days... It remains to be seen how much of the produce, the potatoes especially, that Graham has so diligently put into the ground will pull through without rotting.Personally, I think some mitigation work is required:A lot of debris has been caught up by the footbridge on Dalintart Lane, some of it planking, some of it heavy wood, threatening to damage the fence erected last September.
One of the problems is definitely the fact that the modern concrete slab across the burn is significantly lower than the original (19th century?) arch; the pipes/culverts running underneath it also block debris.While I'm not sure raising the slab to give the water more room would sort the problem, I am confident that the water would back up a lot less if those obstacles were removed.
See for yourselves -- I'm attaching a few photos and a small video clip (medium resolution so here's hoping your inboxes won't fill up too badly). Click here for a video clip.
By about 10:50, the rain had abated, and the water has receded to the extent that the lane is passable again. But this is no reason to be complacent: more rain has been forecast and the weather charts show large, deep green swathes of heavy rain coming up from the south.
Friday, 14 August 2009
SURF's up
Hi all
This post is indebted to my Community Representative colleague, Steve Byrne, from Campbeltown, Argyll.
Steve also happens to be the Chairperson of the Highland and Argyll & Bute Regional Network that tries to bring tenants and residents together. Anyone interested in more details about this network, please leave your comment, including your e-mail address and phone number on this blog. Your blogger will make sure your details are forwarded to Steve, but not published here.
SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration - 27/07/2009
Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 awards – closing date: 21st September 2009.
The SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration is now in its 11th year. The Scottish Centre for Regeneration's prestigious annual awards process recognises and promotes best practice in regeneration and social inclusion in Scotland.
This post is indebted to my Community Representative colleague, Steve Byrne, from Campbeltown, Argyll.
Steve also happens to be the Chairperson of the Highland and Argyll & Bute Regional Network that tries to bring tenants and residents together. Anyone interested in more details about this network, please leave your comment, including your e-mail address and phone number on this blog. Your blogger will make sure your details are forwarded to Steve, but not published here.
SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration - 27/07/2009
Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 awards – closing date: 21st September 2009.
The SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration is now in its 11th year. The Scottish Centre for Regeneration's prestigious annual awards process recognises and promotes best practice in regeneration and social inclusion in Scotland.
The SURF Awards is supported by the Scottish Government’s Scottish Centre for Regeneration and independently judged by a panel of representatives drawn from relevant national organisations and community groups.
If you are aware of a project or initiative that you believe deserves particular recognition, please consider nominating it for a 2009 SURF Award.
The key dates for the applications process are:
- Monday 27th July 2009: Opening date for applications
- Monday 21st September 2009: Closing date for applications
- Thursday 3rd December 2009: SURF Awards are presented at a dinner ceremony in Glasgow by Alex Neil MSP, Minister for Housing and Communities
How to apply
Further information on the entry criteria and the application process for the 2009 SURF Awards is available for download from the SURF website ( .doc or .pdf).
Thursday, 30 July 2009
Growing, weeding, "burning"
Hiya againSummer is taking its course; the rain and warmth have pushed everything: vegetables, flowers, weeds.
Each rainfall uncovers more rubbish; yet another builders bag is filling up fast.
The butterbur along the burn is growing riotously, as are cleavers and balm. The weeds are also growing inside the concrete bed of the burn. With intense rainfall looming, they will slow the flow of the water and may cause flooding again.
Kids from the neighbourhood -- definitely NOT the children from the islands who stay at the Glencruitten Hostel -- have been throwing loads of rubbish and plant material into the burn. 
Some of us from the garden group will have to work really hard to rake and fork it all out again to make sure the debris does not choke up the low passage under the footbridge...
...whose left bank is being undermined by the onslaught of water -- something will have to be done about this sooner rather than later:
But not all is doom and gloom: the sweet peas are looking spectacular just now.
Notices about biochar, Scottish Orchards and EM Bokashi have been posted on the fence and are attracting lots of attention. 
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
New Greenspace Survey results: What do people think of green spaces in Scotland?
Hiya again – For this post I am indebted to SURF, the independent regeneration network for Scotland.
23/07/2009 – A new Greenspace Scotland survey shows that people think urban green spaces across Scotland are getting better, and that they are increasingly turning to their local spaces for recreation and exercise.A report published this month reveals that nearly two-thirds (63%) of Scots use their local green spaces for recreation and exercise each week, and that people think urban greenspaces across Scotland are getting better.
The report, based on a survey commissioned by Greenspace Scotland, also shows that most people think green spaces are very important to their local area, and believe that green spaces should act as places for play, physical activity, relaxation and seeing nature. However, in common with previous Greenspace Scotland surveys, the findings show a continuing gap between expectations about green space and the reality of local spaces. When asked about what would increase their use of green space, many people reported problems with maintenance or lack of facilities.
For more details, please click here or here.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Easdale Community Garden on TV1's Beechgrove Garden
Hiya again
Most of you will have heard that BBC TV1's Beechgrove Garden programme recently aired its episode about the new Community Garden at Easdale, Isle of Seil. It contains lots of useful information about gardening on the Scottish West Coast, as well as tips on sustainable methods and products: heat sinks, path "slabs" from recycled material, etc. etc.
If you haven't seen it or if you missed the programme, you still have a chance until Wednesday, 15th July 2009. A click on the title of this post will take you to the BBC page, where your blogger found the following information:
***
In this episode, the whole production team cross the Atlantic...
The Atlantic bridge that is, just South of Oban, to help with the final stages of a community garden that's being created around the new community hall on the stunning slate island of Seil.
The 600-strong community have already raised money for, and designed and built, their own new community hall. The builders left all the rubble from the old hall all around the new one. Added to that, the proposed site of the community's new garden was the old dumping ground for the slate on its way from quarry to ferry; there is no soil there at all. The new garden is being built out of rubble and slate, and sits abut 50 metres from the ocean's edge. Not much of a challenge there, then!
Jim, Carole, George and Carolyn are on the island to help in the final stages of the community garden, but to also see some of the extraordinary and surprising gardens and gardeners on Seil.
The community gardens are gardens created by the community for the community with a little help from Beechgrove. The Beechgrove Community Garden Initiative has helped over 170 community gardens be created the length and breadth of Scotland since 1996.
Most of you will have heard that BBC TV1's Beechgrove Garden programme recently aired its episode about the new Community Garden at Easdale, Isle of Seil. It contains lots of useful information about gardening on the Scottish West Coast, as well as tips on sustainable methods and products: heat sinks, path "slabs" from recycled material, etc. etc.
If you haven't seen it or if you missed the programme, you still have a chance until Wednesday, 15th July 2009. A click on the title of this post will take you to the BBC page, where your blogger found the following information:
***
In this episode, the whole production team cross the Atlantic...
The Atlantic bridge that is, just South of Oban, to help with the final stages of a community garden that's being created around the new community hall on the stunning slate island of Seil.
The 600-strong community have already raised money for, and designed and built, their own new community hall. The builders left all the rubble from the old hall all around the new one. Added to that, the proposed site of the community's new garden was the old dumping ground for the slate on its way from quarry to ferry; there is no soil there at all. The new garden is being built out of rubble and slate, and sits abut 50 metres from the ocean's edge. Not much of a challenge there, then!
Jim, Carole, George and Carolyn are on the island to help in the final stages of the community garden, but to also see some of the extraordinary and surprising gardens and gardeners on Seil.
The community gardens are gardens created by the community for the community with a little help from Beechgrove. The Beechgrove Community Garden Initiative has helped over 170 community gardens be created the length and breadth of Scotland since 1996.
- Broadcast on: BBC One, 7:30pm Wednesday 8th July 2009
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Available until: 7:59pm Wednesday 15th July 2009
- ****
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