Allotments and food growing

As well as allotments and raised bed sites managed by the Council, there are many other inspirational food growing activities and educational projects happening across South Lanarkshire.

Over 50 of our schools are actively encouraging and educating children on how to grow their own food and eat healthily.  Projects include the provision of greenhouses, vegetable patches, planters and raised beds to grow everything from strawberries to pumpkins and some schools have used the produce in the canteen to make soup or apple crumble and have allowed children to take surplus produce home.  

Many of our care homes and day centres use food growing and therapeutic horticultural activities for their clients and produce is either used by residents or shared with cookery groups.  As well as enjoying fresh fruit and veg, this can encourage increased mobility, reduce isolation and improve confidence.

We also work in partnership with a number of groups who manage community growing sites that give local residents, groups and schools the opportunity to grow fruit and vegetables out in the community.  These initiatives also allow beginners to learn new skills and are ideal for those who can’t manage an individual plot, may not have a lot of experience or prefer to work as part of a group. We are also working in partnership to pilot small community food growing projects in public parks and open spaces for example within Strathaven Park, Crofthead Park in Uddingston and Castlebank Park in Lanark.

Community groups are always looking for people to volunteer or join their group, some of which are listed below: 

• Flourishing Forth
• Organic Growers of Bothwell
• Larkhall Community Growers
• TACT Healthy Park
• Cambuslang Allotments
• Whitehill Project 
• Chatelherault Country Park Project
• Strathaven in Bloom
• Leadhills Park
• Castlebank Park Horticultural Centre
• Rutherglen Baptist Church Garden Project
• East Kilbride Development Trust, Calderglen Country Park
• Grow 73, Overtoun Park, Rutherglen 
• Lesmahagow community allotments
• Friends of the Calder, Hunthill Road, Blantyre
• Forth Eco Site

To help you find a food growing activity near you, please check our map of all food growing sites on Council land.

If you are interested in getting involved with an existing group or would like more information, please contact the Landscape Support Officer via email at ffgs@southlanarkshire.gov.uk