Growth on the Glebe at Duddingston

One of our Eco-Congregations in Edinburgh is running an exciting project at the base of Arthur’s Seat.

The Duddingston Kirk Glebe Project, integrates a historic church building, an existing garden, a café and four acres of glebe land, reaching out to the wider community.

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Originally available to the church’s minister for food growing to supplement a modest income, the Glebe covers four acres of land beside Duddingston Loch. Since the beginning of 2016, a project worker, Lizz Paterson, along with volunteers and other groups has been developing the site to grow vegetables, soft fruits and flowers.

DSC_0216The historic church building and the established Dr Neil’s Garden currently attract several thousand visitors each year. Now the newly established Garden Room Café acts as a hub for the church, garden and glebe land.

DSC_0204Separate areas of the Glebe will be developed to reflect themes of peace, remembrance, play and story-telling. There are also plans for contemplative trails to criss-cross the site.

Already two external groups are working on the land. Tiphereth, an organisation working with young people with special needs, is cultivating part of the Glebe to grow fruit and vegetables. Also, Terra Nova, a small business is growing flowers for local markets.

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