Our Community Kitchen branches out into community garden

Our Community Kitchen was formed in 2018 with the aim of tackling social isolation and loneliness by getting people together to enjoy a meal.

Now, members of the group have held an open day at Tynebank Garden in Haddington to unveil their latest project.

Elaine Gale, founder and manager of Our Community Kitchen, hailed the event “a huge success”, with more than 100 people in attendance.

She said: “Our garden has the same aims as Our Community Kitchen: to reduce loneliness and isolation by bringing people together to grow food and enjoy activities.

“The food we grow will be used around the table at Our Community Kitchen for people to enjoy during the week and we will share any excess with others.

“Tynebank supports adults with complex and profound learning difficulties and people who often find it difficult to access our local community due to the complexity of their needs, and as such can experience loneliness and social isolation.

“People who attend will benefit greatly from an improved outdoor environment, social contact and relationships with our local community.”

Our Community Garden aims to tackle loneliness and isolation (Image: Contributed)

The group holds regular gardening sessions throughout the week, with a gardening group meeting on Thursdays.

Members of the community can head along and volunteer by buddying up, lending support and learning new skills.

Mrs Gale noted that funding for equipment at the garden had come from Tyne and Esk Rural Community Fund and East Lothian Climate Action Network (ELCAN).

Ahead of the opening, visitors donated refreshments, home baking, dried flowers, plants and more, and more than £650 was raised on the day.

She said: “It is really good food.

“The idea is we are growing our own food, we are cooking it, we are eating it and we are feeling better.

“It’s not just loneliness and isolation, it is the whole wellbeing.”

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Councillor John McMillan, Provost of East Lothian, officially opened the garden; he described it as “a genuine community effort”.

Mr McMillan said: “It was great to see the garden space being brought back to life.

“It was not just members of Our Community Kitchen but families, neighbours and all the members of the community.

“The community council chairperson was there and there were people from Blooming Haddington and the Lammermuir Larder too all being there and realising the benefits of growing and cooking.”