Community Growing Projects in Dunoon and surrounding areas

In the grounds of the community  hub on Kirk Street are several raised beds made from pallets and other recycled materials. These are used to grow produce for the food bank and provide an opportunity for staff, volunteers and clients to enjoy spending time outside. The team are planning to build several more beds this year so more volunteers are always welcome.  For more information contact hubgrubhub@gmail.com

Students and teaching staff from the Learning Centre maintain this garden site, which includes a polytunnel and raised beds as well as a wooded area with a pond and some fruit trees. The site is used in various ways to support the curriculum and get pupils involved in growing. 

ESCAPE is the East Cowal Afterschool Project serving Dunoon and surrounding areas. In 2023 the team set up a food growing area. Food is grown in raised beds and used in cooking activities as well as providing learning opportunities. Food has also been donated to the Hub Grub (Dunoon Food Bank).   

Built in the 1840s as a kitchen garden for the local estate, Glenfinart Walled Garden in Ardentinny is now community-led garden and in keeping with its kitchen garden roots. An orchard grows native fruit trees, and there are beds and a polytunnel for growing organic fruit and vegetables. Children can explore the bird hide, bug hide and sensory garden, created in partnership with BBC Beechgrove Garden.  A wildflower area is full of bee-friendly flowers as part of the Friends of the Earth's Bee cause campaign.

Grow Food Grow Dunoon is a project of Dunoon Community Development Trust. They are a group of people who came together because they wanted to grow their own food, not in a private allotment or garden, but as a team. The project runs courses in seed propagation, planting, composting and harvesting. They are also planning courses on natural bee-keeping, food preserving, tree planting and more.

Scenic Sandbank was recently successful in its funding application to the Scottish Land Fund to create a community garden. The provisional site plans include raised beds for growing fruit and vegetables, a poly tunnel and an open sided classroom.

The POP Shop's many green initiatives include a community rhubarb growing project, hosting growing workshops in collaboration with Grow Food Grow Dunoon, and a garden area growing flavour-giving plants for its local soft drink start-up business.