We are very excited to have received funding from Foundation Scotland via Dundee Changemakers hub.  This will enable us as a network to further our work and knowledge in our gardens using the principles of permaculture.   This is the most sustainable way to grow food.  Once established the growing system is self regulating.  As a network we are really lucky to have a few local experts who have learned by trying out lots of techniques in their own gardens in Dundee.  We will be sharing their local knowledge and working to create a more sustainable way of growing with minimal impact.  Whether it's about water, temperature or biodiversity we hope to provide practical solutions.  Follow us on our journey through the months ahead. 

Influencing Policy and our new Permaculture Project

We are really grateful to be working with the fantastic Carolina Rocha de Santa Maria on this research question that she helped us identify. The process and results will give us some important insight and information in terms of why people participate in community garden projects. She has led a team of community interviewers, all involved or interested in community growing. Check out this visual summary she made for us and we'll be sharing findings soon!

As part of the V+A Garden Futures: Designing with Nature Exhibition we became part of a local project to grow and harvest dye plants.  The resulting dyes have been used in various Workshops and Dye Socials run by Jek McAllister.  We are developing a collective knowledge of growing and using these plants.  It has been a great project and lots of fun for everyone involved.....and has produced some beautiful results.   You can find out more details about the project here

Over the past year or so we have been privileged to host a number of visitors from across Scotland who have come to see the gardens and to find out more about what we do and how we work in our local neighbourhoods and gatherings.  It has been so valuable to share ideas and discuss the issues we all face and to talk about how we face some of the challenges.  Sharing knowledge and experience is part of our strength and we welcome like minded groups and organisations.  We can all learn from each other.

The German-British Friendship Award was awarded to our very own George Laidlaw (Volunteer at Shiell St and Queen St community gardens and all-round Super hero!).  George is Chair of the Dundee-Wurzburg Twinning Association.  The award was presented by Her Excellency Ambassador Susanne Baumann.

Isn't it heartening when all the things we talk about doing come together beautifully!

Sat 21st June 2025

We had a brilliant day at the University of Dundee Botanic Gardens.  It was a city wide event aimed at promoting the power of plants and some of their many uses.  It was a glorious Summer day and the gardens were full of families enjoying the event.

We have been out and about at Dundee Uni.  We've been spreading the word about the opportunities available in our Community Growing spaces and gardens for volunteering.  The students had a chance to ask all about the gardens and how to get involved.  We gave away free seeds and made a few herbal tea bags.  It was so much fun to meet lots of new faces and chat to lots of bright sparks!  Hoping to see a few of them over the coming weeks. 

There is a planning application underway to build houses, a crematorium and a new football stadium at a site in Camperdown Park in Dundee.  You can read more about it here  (planning ref number 24/00096/PPPM.)

As a Growing Network we held our first seed swap at the start of 2025 at Campy Growers.  The seed swap was designed to encourage swapping of excess saved seed and excess bought seed.  As a group we have been experimenting with saving our own seed from a number of flowers like Cosmos and Calendula plus Tomatoes and chillies.  All the seeds are open pollinated so there are no guarantees that they will be exactly what you expect but that can be part of the fun.  We had a great turn out from all sorts of folk, some new beginners and some experienced growers.  There was plenty to share as well as the seeds!

Dundee punching above its weight…as usual!  A small team of our gardeners from across the City travelled to Birmingham for the night to attend the Britain in Bloom awards ceremony.  They swapped gardening gloves and wellies for posh frocks and fine dining.  They received 2 Awards- Queen St & Shiell St Community Gardens and Ninewells Community Garden

We created a documentary film about the highs and lows of Community growing and what gets in the way as we try to overcome barriers to Community growing.  The film was funded by Social Action Inquiry Scotland.  With thanks to Jek and Shan who put the film together.

The Community Growers were all delighted to be involved in the new Food Festival in the City Square this summer.   We used the occasion to showcase all the work that goes on in the Growing spaces around the City.  We served up over 250 free Mocktails made with herbs and flowers from the gardens.  We had loads of fun and told visitors all about how to grow more plants for bees, how to make compost and how to sow seeds.   We even made pots out of old newspapers.   It was also a great chance to tell everyone about some of our volunteer opportunities and this shiny new website!

Our network is very grateful to the wonderful University of Dundee Botanic Garden team headed by Kevin Frediani. Thanks to them, volunteers from all our community gardens and growing spaces can benefit from free entry to the Botanics. What a wonderful gift and opportunity for us to visit more often and hopefully work in collaboration.

We are super excited about this new mini-community garden right in the middle of town. Robyn Scanlan and fellow artists and community organisers are making this space in the Keiller Centre a real hub of green, creative, community reflection and action. We are looking forward to working together to get more folk to benefit from community food growing. follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cityflowers_gardenstudio/

Our great group of seed savers got together again this past Sunday, hosted (and fed!) by the lovely Gisela at Dundee Botanics. Bonnie Dundee, Maxwell, Duntrune, PLANT, Botanics, the Seed and Campy Growers were all present with a few apologies. After sharing our progress Lucy presented some useful information about diseases to look out for. Gabriela Toledo from the James Hutton Institute told us about their projects with tomato varieties and we considered ways of working together, from events to shared project participants. Gisela made us very jealous after showing us how well their edible plants are doing in their greenhouse, we all know now who will be saving those first ripe tomato seeds! If you would like to get involved please send us a message.

The Community Garden Network are taking part in the 2024 Big Garden Birdwatch run by the RSPB.

Growers from Dundee Community Garden Network have received seeds from Seeds of Scotland. 

A spade, some compost, a bit of strength and here is Campy Growers' new orchard appearing!! Incorporating fruit tress makes a massive difference to the growing space. In a few years, they will harvest their own fruits to share with the community and why not make some apple juice! 

We're so pleased to report that not only has Victoria Gardens received a Level 5 - Outstanding grade from Keep Scotland Beautiful's It's Your Neighbourhood Program, but we have also received a certificate of recognition for our work in making a space that is friendly to pollinators and helps support their vital ecosystem services even in an urban environment! Let's keep up the good work in the coming year in making Victoria Gardens as friendly to people AND wildlife as it can possibly be!

  They’ve done a wonderful job clearing and restoring the pond. It’s looking so much better and will make a welcoming home to lots of wildlife. Louise from Frog Life offered her help and advice to make the most  amazing pond.  Let's not forget volunteers who worked hard behind the scenes, providing hot drinks and soup to keep everyone warm! An inspiring project for sure.