FINTRY TREE PLANTING DAY

Our Chair Michael kindly wrote this on the back of our event today.

The snowdrops on Fintry Gardens were out with the fine weather on Fintry Community Garden’s Tree Planting Day on Tuesday 21 January. Sixty five folks of all ages gathered in the extensive area south of Findcastle Street to plant around about 450 trees to border the growing area of our new community garden there. Dog Rose, Elder and Crab Apple seedlings, among others, were gently settled into the holes that were levered out of the firm soil by young and old. Kids mixed with university students and old tree planting hands from various community groups from all over Dundee: Freya from Fintry Early Years was ‘happy to be outside’ and her gran had told her that ‘the sun helps and protects your life.’, likewise her wee colleague Liam who liked ‘going outside’ too. David Flood from Root and Branch enjoyed the ‘nice camaraderie’ of our joint endeavour. Mudder Nature’s Little Explorers from the west of the city were happy that the event fell on the Tuesday afternoons that make up the outdoors part of their week. Sienna, who is two years old told us positively: ‘This is good fun.’ Braeview pupils came along and planted a power of crab apple whips skilfully. Climate activist Bridget mixed with local councillors and volunteers from Portugal and Turkey as the little saplings were given a new home close to the well-established cherry trees of the old Fintry Primary School grounds, a bit of which has now become the community garden. The Ranger Service provided the expertise and fixings for this first task of the New Year: forks, gloves, canes and protective covers, should any local roe dear from nearby Finlathen Park get the nibbles. Once the simple technique of planting was demonstrated, there was no holding back the large and diverse squad. 90 minutes later, working in the mild and sunny weather, the area was transformed into the beginning of a garden where fresh air, exercise, fresh food and sociability is offered to all over the coming seasons. Our next open planning meeting is on Monday 27 January at 5.30 in the Adult Learning Room, Finmill Community Centre. Thanks to all today. Failte! Welcome!