ECBI - Edinburgh Community Backgreens Initiative - Providing Greenspace for the Community

The key features of a possible Community Growing project are outlined below.  To identify the appropriate model for a particular community, ECBA would work with local area partners to access the needs and aspirations of the community.

It is likely that several solutions would be relevant for sub-urban tenemental estates, including the development of community growing sites on nearby greenspace, or within tenement perimeter blocks, and installing growing spaces in tenement backgreens.


Community Growing Sites
One or more sites would be identified to develop into community growing projects.  These sites would be laid out with raised beds for single use and larger growing patches for group use.  Each site would be provided with a shed and adequate tools and equipment.  Access would be required to toilets either on site or nearby, compost toilets could be considered where possible.

The sites would be managed by a Community Gardener who would run Grow Your Own training courses (see below) and other growing related workshops, where appropriate the Community Gardener would be supported by tutors.  Whilst the community growing sites would be open throughout the year, the majority of courses would be delivered between March and October ‘the Season’.  During November to February the sites would operate on reduced capacity.

Participants would be offered a growing space at the community growing site to manage for one or more seasons.  A variety of different sized growing spaces to suit individual needs from small to large raised beds and elevated beds for those with restricted movement.

The sites would be managed to encourage a turnover of growing spaces to allow new participants to make use of them each year.  This would be achieved by working with each years participants to open up new growing spaces in unused greenspaces and in communal backgreens (see below) for them to move on to.



Our most recent project, Sunshine On Leith Gardens, has been developed as a 'community growing' site (see here).   SOL Gardens is different from ECBA's other sites as it has direct access from the street to the the greenspace within the tenement square.  This has facilitated involving people from the wider community in the project as they don't need to come through a tenement stair. 

It is hoped that the community growing site would result in the development of a network of 100 or more community growers in the first three years of the project, who would support each other to establish a variety of growing spaces throughout the local area, and that this would result in an increased sense of common purpose and social capital.


Growing Backgreens
The majority of greenspace in sub-urban tenement estates is in the backgreens.  This is potentially the most valuable of greenspace as it is literally on the doorstep and instantly accessible. These backgreens are maintained by the Council, the residents or in some cases not at all.  They are largely used as drying greens, but are often large enough to support other uses.


The Community Growing project would encourage and support residents to investigate opportunities to create vegetable and fruit growing spaces in their backgreens including raised beds and forest garden areas.  Participants will receive training and resources to develop their own growing spaces, and in turn to support others in their community to develop theirs.


Grow Your Own
Several formats of Grow Your Own courses could be offered such as short (four to six week) introductory courses, or longer full or half season courses which could be SVQ accredited.  ECBA have developed a series of courses and workshops which add value to the community growing model, these include a six week Grow Your Own course and short workshops on a variety of food and gardening related subjects. (see here).



Cook Your Own
Alongside the teaching of Grow Your Own courses, the initiative can in partnership with local partners deliver a Cook Your Own course to teach how to prepare simple, cheap and nutritious meals from the vegetables and fruit grown in the community.

The growing of local food would be linked with support to raise awareness and skills in cooking nutritious food from local fruit and vegetables.  A location could be identified to develop as a community cafe.  The cafe would provide a base for teaching Cook Your Own courses, and would provide affordable food for the local community.

Opportunities would be explored for the development of a local food market, which would sell fresh fruit and vegetables at the community cafe.  As community growing spaces are developed in the local community, growers would be encouraged to sell surplus goods at the market and or trade it for cooked food at the community cafe.

A strong identity would be developed for the community cafe in keeping with its relationship with the community growing project.  The cafe would raise awareness about the growing project selling seeds, tools and plants.


We have developed a "Dig For Victory" campaign which has a strong visual identity for branding promotional and course materials.  We can make this available to partner organisations in locally specific formats.  The campaign also has an associated social networking site (see here).


Cycle Storage, Composting & Other Benefits
Community growing projects in tenement backgreens can facilitate the integration of other facilities which support sustainable living.  Secure cycle storage will promote physical activity and sustainable transport.  Food and garden waste can be composted on site to provide a valuable source of nutrients for the gardens.  This will increase awareness about composting and reduce waste to landfill.  Play spaces and jungle gyms can be installed.