There was a great turnout at Ochil Community Garden’s inaugural Partnership Event last Friday (25 September).
Organised by the Friends of Ochil Community Garden, the event shared and celebrated the recent achievements of the garden while it welcomed and encouraged new partnerships.
Friends, family, local politicians and partnership organisations such as community groups and local schools were all given a warm welcome to the colourful garden, which was bursting with ripe vegetables and flowers. Groups and organisations had information stalls at the event including the Wee County Men’s Shed, which temporarily moved to the site not long ago and displayed the variety of projects it is involved with.
The garden, which promotes physical activity and healthy eating, was developed to provide opportunities for local communities and Clackmannanshire Council’s Adult Day Services, which played a positive role in bringing partnerships and people together.
MSP Keith Brown as well as MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh also visited and were delighted to show their support for the garden.
The MSP for Clackmannanshire and Dunblane said: “I was delighted to be able to attend the Friends of Ochil Community Garden’s partnership event.
“There is no doubt that partnership working has been the key to the success of the garden as partners have worked alongside service users to achieve so much. In particular I would like to mention Prudential who have supported the project, not only through funding, but through volunteering days where employees from Prudential spent time assisting in various tasks and Clackmannanshire’s Men’s Shed who are working on an on-going basis with the garden and have some great ideas for future collaborations.”
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, MP for Ochil and South Perthshire, added: “This is a fantastic example of what partnership working can achieve. It was great to meet so many of the service users who have gained so much joy and practical experience from the project. 
This year, the garden won the Gold Award at the Royal Caledonian Society Pallet and Planter Competition. This is a great achievement and everyone involved should be very proud.”
However, the garden is now under threat of closure as the council owned site is currently up for sale. It is understood that councillors will debate five offers for the land on 22 October and according to the Friends of the Ochil Community Garden, one of the bidders is in favour of the project remaining at its current location.
Members of the group are optimistic “that the very real benefits of the garden to so many will not be lost” and they are looking forwards to “many more happy and productive years ahead”.