Student digs Incredible garden site

A STUDENT from the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) curated a High Street allotment during the summer.

Thanik Jaganath, who is interested in citizen empowerment through the use of public spaces, combined forces with the Incredible Edible group at Castlehill Church to bring attention to the work on the land reclaimed there.

He said: "I became involved as part of my final project. One objective was to showcase art as social actions. Our work to curate the space was research through design and I gathered insights to build a case for my project.

"We moved around the positioning of the plants and added various signs, a blackboard and a harvest board."

In April 2016, volunteer Jenny Smith started urban gardening project Castlehill Veg – Getting Incredible in the grounds of the derelict church to make better use of the space. Produce, which is freely available to passers-by, includes salad leaves, herbs, kale, cabbage, turnips, fennel, Romanesco broccoli, onions and more.

Jenny said: "It was great to have Thanik’s input and encouragement. We continue our learning path of discovery about plants, vegetables, culinary and medical herbs, and the importance of healthy soils with microbial soil activity. Castlehill church was auctioned on August 16 but did not sell. We wish it to have new owners and a resolution in terms of its future."

She added: "We also wish to stay the length of the growing season, if not longer, and believe we offer a service, both in keeping the church tidy and to the community."

Incredible Edible has reorganised the site after the work and scaffolding of last year.

Members have also strimmed the area and planted owers. Fellow volunteer, Greg Breen, said: "Pop past and take what you need."