Bonnymuir Green

for a nominal cost to start a Bowling Club. The Bowling Club that owned the land made a decision to close in 2015 and the Green was left derelict. The Green journey continued when a group of locals came together to look at developing the Green within the spirit of the original gift of the land for community use. The objective was to retain this historical green space as a community resource and not see it exploited for commercial gain. Public meetings, canvassing and surveys ensued and the newly formed Bonnymuir Green Community Trust began the process of a Community Right to Buy. Once the application was approved by Scottish government ministers, there followed a huge fundraising effort and the land was purchased in September 2018. Immediately work began transforming the overgrown unused land into a community garden. With an enterprise plan and proposed garden design in place, willing volunteers came together to cut back the grass, put up a polytunnel and to build vegetable beds. After just a year the Green was producing fruit and vegetables for all the community to pick and eat. Next came a beautiful wildlife pond, fruit trees for an orchard, wildflower area, flower beds and a play area; all making the Green a great place for anyone to come and enjoy. Our Bonny Café opened in 2019, initially on Saturdays and now Monday to Saturday with drinks and cakes only through the week and hot food on Fridays and Saturdays. In 2020, we developed the raised beds to make them more accessible to people with disabilities and established our soft fruit area. In 2021 we added the Apiary and two honey bee hives to increase our bio-diversity. The Green is now open to the public throughout the week to relax or get involved in the garden. The Trust also hosts regular social events, art exhibitions, gardening and art workshops and wellbeing classes. A beautiful, calm, educational, inclusive and fun place built by volunteers for the whole community.