What has happened at the Green Centre so far:

Last year we received a grant of £9000 from the Big Lottery Fund, through the BBC Breathing Places project. This was to develop a disused quarry within the village into a 'Breathing Place' for the local community.

The quarry was purchased by West Kilbride Community Initiative several years ago with money from grants. Legally it is owned by 'The People of West Kilbride', although it is managed by the Environmental Group on behalf of the initiative.

At present, access is only possible for members of the group, some neighbours who have a legal right to pass through and for other groups who are helping us develop the project.

These are The Butterfly Conservation Group, the local primary school, the local Boys Brigade, and the American religious group based in WK, Youth with a Mission.

The BB's are doing a vegetable garden and YWAM a 'Contemplative' garden, and Charlie and I were doing a garden where people could sit and have picnics. Within this garden are a tree and some shrubs bought by some of the girls in the veterinary surgery who worked for Charlie. I am continuing to plant and maintain this garden.

With the grant, we have bought many more trees and plants, improved the road, built a large pond with a small duck house, and bought a moveable electric fence for the chickens (which are no longer there as you know). We have some money left for signage, and a recent decision of the group was to spend some of this on a metal sign for the gate, and change the name of the centre to 'Garratt Gardens' in memory of Charlie.

We hope to open the centre, on a limited basis, to the public later on this year.

The existing activities in the quarry will carry on, that is a wormery and planting up hanging baskets with plug plants donated by the council and brought on in the poly-tunnel.

The aims of the breathing places grant were: to increase participation and access, and make a lasting improvement to the local environment.

Thee were several outcomes we had to meet: to improve biodiversity and wildlife habitats which are accessible to all, increased community use, increased opportunities and support for volunteers, and it was hoped our skills to manage this breathing space would be improved by the experience.

We were advised by Jill Smart of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Cameron Sharp and Amanda from Eglinton Country Park and the RSPB, who provide an assessment and advisory service for a fee of £50.

The quarry is unique in that it is within the village, easily accessible to all the community, yet still retains an untouched and tranquil atmosphere, habitats for birds and insects and a peaceful place for people.

See more recent pictures of developments at the Green Centre in the Pics & Video section here.

Jane Fraser

Environmental Group

01294 823808