Cash boost for Crieff allotments

Jun 29 2012 by Katy Gordon, Strathearn Herald

A CRIEFF allotment group is celebrating a major cash boost.

The Allotment Association of Crieff was one of the recipients of the most recent round of Climate Challenge Fund awards, getting £11,150.

Chairman John McDonald told the Herald: “We are very very excited to get the money. There was a lot of work put into the application but it was a lovely surprise to hear we had been successful.

“The money will allow us to initially set up and put up fencing, create a communal building, buy some communal equipment and a range of other different things.”

As part of the funding the group will have 18 months to show that the allotment is helping to reduce carbon emissions, a goal John feels it will achieve.

“The allotments are a 10-year project,” he said, “and we feel that, through people growing their own produce and not travelling to supermarkets, it will all add up.”

Although the Allotment Association of Crieff still has to finalise its lease with Crieff Hydro, it has already received planning consent for the site from Perth and Kinross Council. The site will allow for 27 plots – a mix of full and half-plots – that people can use.

Announcing the award last week, Minister for Environment and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson said: “Climate change is one of the most serious threats we face as a global community and Scotland is leading the way in tackling the problem.

“Importantly Scottish communities are playing their part, taking action to reduce their carbon footprint with support from our Climate Challenge Fund. Across the country a further 21 exciting new projects, including this initiative in Crieff, will receive £2.9 million support, empowering more communities to realise their carbon-saving potential.

“CCF has captured the imagination of local communities, producing many innovative ideas and projects to change behaviours and drive down emissions.

“That commitment from local communities – to tackle climate change from the grass-roots up – is essential if we are to succeed in delivering Scotland’s world-leading and ambitious climate change targets.”

Crieff-based MSP Roseanna Cunningham said: “Strathearn has done well so far out of the Climate Challenge Fund and I am delighted to see that continuing.

“I am a strong supporter of the allotments movement and it is great to see that there is the demand in Crieff to support this development.

“Growing some of your own food is healthier and cheaper and cuts down on your food miles significantly. But also simply getting outside on a regular basis to do a bit of work in the allotment can itself be very good for your physical and mental wellbeing.

“I am sure that this award will be warmly welcomed locally and I have no doubt that the money will be put to very good use indeed.”

For more information see the section of the Perth and Kinross Council website (www.pkc.gov.uk) or email john at talljohn@tiscali.co.uk.