Lochend Community Growing Project is a charity which cultivates outdoor spaces into community greenspaces for use by the local community to encourage the idea of growing their own food.
Our first and most successful community greenspace is Lochend Secret Garden. Throughout the year, we hold workshops and social events which are free and open to all in the community. These have included growing from seed, composting, pruning, bee-keeping, basket weaving, medicinal herbs, story-telling, foraging and jam and pickle making.
We promote health and wellbeing, equality and community cohesion.
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The project was initiated in 2011 when the charity Carr Gomm opened a supported living service in Lochend area and wanted a way for their residents to join in with the local community. They had the idea to create community greenspaces where all people from the community could come together to grow their own food and socialise. They named the project Lochend Community Growing Project. Carr Gomm worked in collaboration with Edinburgh Community Backgreens Association and the local community to create Lochend Secret Garden.​
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In August 2013, Carr Gomm handed over the running of the project to a Board of Voluntary Trustees who were to be responsible for it's administration and running. Two community orchards have since been created. LCGP is funded by grants, member fees and donations.
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Lochend Secret Garden
Over the winter of 2011/2012 a derelict wasteland in Lochend Quadrant was transformed into a thriving community garden with over 60 raised beds surrounded by a forest garden with an abundance of fruit trees and bushes. By Spring 2012 the garden was up and running and the raised beds allocated to individuals, schools and other community groups. There is a large polytunnel, a garden shed with veranda and an outdoor pizza oven. It is a place where LCGP members can meet together to grow their own produce in a beautiful and tranquil setting. It is where most of LCGP’s workshops and events are held. We have gardening get togethers here on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 11am and 1pm however these can go on much later when the weather is good. Those members who would prefer some quiet time at the garden can still come and garden outwith these hours as the garden is alway open
The Orchards
These can be found on the corner and opposite corner of Lochend Drive and Lochend Quadrant. The Youth Orchard was created in 2014 in conjunction with the Youth Bus Project and the Ripple Project at the Lochend Hub. The second corner Lochend Delicious was created in 2015, a paid employee worked alongside volunteers from LCGP and the local community. Both orchards involved clearing the land, putting down a membrane and woodchip and planting a variety of fruit trees and bushes. The produce from these orchards is for use by the local community.