Local schools pupils learn and play in the garden. Local people work together to grow and harvest local food. Gracemount Community Garden is run by Transition Edinburgh South (Scotland), TES, a small charity (Company No SC445635) with voluntary trustees (currently Pat Abel, Tricia Kaminski, Lynn Jamieson, Norrie MacPhail). TES supports community and sustainability, tries to mitigate climate change and stop harm to wildlife - people getting together and turning good ideas into environmentally friendly actions where they live. Our main activity is supporting Gracemount Community Garden use techniques that are organic and regenerative along with friendly welcoming ways of working - helping the soil, the wildlife, access to nutritious good food and supporting the local community. The coordinator, Richard Whiston, and most of the tools, materials, facilities and some of the workshops associated with the garden are paid for by TES activities. We are currently still fundraising to pay for the disabled toilet in our new portacabin. We also contract the services of a professional fundraiser/development consultant, Hugo Whitaker, to help us. TES also provide financial and practical support to local efforts from Friends of the Mansion led by Lindsay Graham to rescue the building known as the Mansion and establish a Mansion Development Trust. Long ago, the owners of the Mansion were fed from the walled garden that is the home base of Gracemount Community Garden. More recently, the Mansion was a Youth and Community Centre run by City of Edinburgh Council. When the necessary repairs were beyond their budget, they closed the building as unsafe. The plan is to take on ownership with an asset transfer under the Community Empowerment Act. TES and the Mansion Development Trust and both looking for new
members or trustees from all walks of life. Whether you’re a busker or a banker (or both!), have lots of time or a little, please help us make a difference.
