Sunflower winner 2011
Sunflower compatition started away back in March and finished in September.
This years winner was Nicola McCarron from Hillside Road in Neilston.
15 children this year tryed their hand at growing food in our new community growing space, the sunflower compatition was just one event we used to get the children infolved.

Community Growing space 1 year on[photos]


Under 5 years getting stuck in
We have a number of events in the space
these photos show days were we have tried to get the children to play apart.
They love to dig

Father and son having fun

cost saving idea for our potato's
The postcode lottery gave the TRA funding to get the project on its way.
We try to make everyone welcome no matter how young.
Some children just like to dig.
the tunnel

a good view of our area 1

 Go-greener our local Eco group asked us to help deliver the 'Spuds in a bag' project.
This brought lots of people from all over East Renfrewshire to the growing space.

As a group we like to help others that are trying to bring there community together.

Gardening in a good way of doing this

Through our own potato project residents left 70 pop up bags in the growing space.
The children watered them daily [if it didn't rain] till they were ready to give out.




This is one of our 3 tunnels that we had.
due to an unexpected storm one night we are now left with one.







Our growing space is spread over 4 gardens in the area.
The photo is at the start of the project in 2 gardens.
We now have a dedicated recycling in garden 3.
We should have compost for next year.



potato's growing well
Potato's are grown in bags and produce a good crop.








We have small greenhouses that we call the wee tenements.
In this photo we have cucumber's at the back with peppers at the front.

Strawberry's


Young Nicola loved the growing space


the Chair


what can I eat next


building the store


















Our main funder







COMMUNITY FIRST

                                                                                                                                                                 
We set up to improve the quality of life and well being of all residents in Hillside area of Neilston East Renfrewshire and to the wider community as appropriate.
Through sustainable development of the environment and the social model of health to address regeneration issues.





Since 2003 we have dealt with countless repair issues on behave of residents living in Neilston.
We have also run a number of clubs and outings for children, projects have brought thousands of pounds back into the community.



A bit of our history

2003, set up group/

2004 set up 3 youth clubs 1st Christmas party joined East Renfrewshire Forum of RTO/

2005, opened community Garden registered as a RTO/

2006 start of 2 new environmental improvement projects and the 1st O.A.P. trip/

2007 family trip ,Halloween party for adults , start of recycling project. Joined H.S.L.G/

2008 established as tenants representatives of Neilston in Regeneration./

2009 started new partnership with other groups to deliver a plan for the regeneration of Neilston, started recycling growing project. Joined Go-Greener East Renfrewshire/

2010 started work on a community growing area. Joined PPF [health] Joined Third sector forum of East Renfrewshire, joined Adult care committee for East Renfrewshire and became a member of Greenspace Scotland, winners of best community project [Scottish green awards] received funding of £750 from the Postcode lottery trust to help start our recycling in the community growing space.

2011 funding of £1,400 from G.A.A. to help with our community orchard

2011 funding of £1,200 from East Renfrewshire area forum


E.M.A.
In 2010 we started talks with East Renfrewshire Council on creating an estate management agreement [E.M.A.].
The plan will take in all aspect of they way our community is managed by E.R.C.
We hope the plan will be published and out in the public domain by the summer of 2011.

H.S.L.G.
A groups meeting held by East Renfrewshire Council.
We all meet every 6 weeks to go through all areas in East Renfrewshire, around 10 groups attend these meetings.
This meeting allows as to air our grievances and influence council legislation

Town Team
This group was set up to replace the Neilston village regeneration group.
N.V.R.G. were a mix of groups and businesses in Neilston thetas focus was on regeneration.
The Town Team was started in January 2010 and has been stuttering ever since.
A big achievement was made in June of the same year with the publication of the community charter.
From around 50 people meeting it dwindled away to around 12 individuals with one group becoming the dominant force [N.D.T.].
The council have failed on what it set out to do 'attract the ordinary resident'.
N.D.T. now have 5 members on the coordination group the T.R.A. holding the only other place.





 




 In 2009 the group started an environmental project in recycling old tyres.


We used the tyres as planters to grow potato’s

We had a very small budget of £150.00 to start, this gave us compost seeds potatoes and a lot of tyres that had been dumped or retrieved from a local garage.
In 2009 the group started an environmental project in recycling old tyres.


We used the tyres as planters to grow potato’s




GROWING IN THE BACK GARDEN



OUR COMMUNITY GARDEN

BRAEHEAD AVENUE

SCOTTISH GREEN AWARD PROJECT


TALL TREES IN COWDENHALL

BLUE BELLS STARTING SHOW

OUT FOR A WALK IN NEILSTON

SOUP ?

10 FOOT 7 inch SUNFLOWER

OUR MAKE A DIFFY DAY KIDS

KIDS WORKING IN THE ALLOTMENT

THE STAR OF THE SHOW

NEVER TO OLD TO JOIN IN

EVERYTHING GROWING BIG TIME

EASTER SUNDAY

THE BUNNY DOING THE RUN

KIDS AT THE ART CLUB MADE DECORATION

WERE'S THE EGGS

OUR 3 WINNERS


FLOWERS FROM THE COMMUNITY

MORE FLOWERS


THE EASTER BUNNY

FACE PAINTING GALA DAY

GALA DAY BRINGS OUT THE COMMUNITY

BRIC-A-BRAC TABLE

TOMBOLA

HALLOWEEN