Knightswood Community Centre

Project: Edible Hedgerow Project

Idea in a Nutshell

Knightswood Community Centre will put the money into the The Knightswood Community Garden Group. The group has 20 volunteers who come under the umbrella of Knightswood Community SCIO. The Community Garden Group will create an edible border hedgerow over 30 metres with plants that produces edible fruit, nuts, flowers, and leaves.

We will plant a variety of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants. The aim of the project is to attract wildlife as well as provide food for humans and wildlife. For example Hawthorn Red Berries, Elder, for colour and wildlife and the Alder seeds that siskin birds love! Other edible delights in our hedge would include plum, blueberry, elderberry, hazelnut and flowers like rose and redbud. The hedge will also help protect the community garden from winter gales.

We intend to purchase edible bare root plants approximately 40 to 60 cm in height. It is envisaged that we would implement a diverse planting regime with a staggered harvest focusing on a hedgerow ideal for year-long grazing.

Experience

Knightswood Community Centre originally opened in 1950 when it operated from what is now the GHA offices on Dykebar Avenue.

The present Community Centre building, built in 1968-1969, covers an estimated 1,100sq m over two floors, with approximately 865sq m available for lease or hire.

The main accommodation and facilities include; a commercial kitchen and café area; a main hall with stage and dressing rooms; a lesser hall and other rooms for lease/ hire; several support rooms/offices and onsite parking.

The Centre was managed and operated by Glasgow Life until October 2015 when it was transferred to community management by Glasgow City Council.

It is now operated by Knightswood Community SCIO (Charity Number SC044148) whose purposes are:

To advance citizenship and community development among the Knightswood Community; and
To provide social, cultural, recreational and educational facilities that will improve the conditions of life for people in the Knightswood community, particularly through the operation of Knightswood Community Centre.

Full Membership of Knightswood Community SCIO is open to any individual aged 16 or over who supports the broad purposes of Knightswood Community SCIO (and who has paid their annual membership fee).