Volunteers Give Kirn a Garden Makeover with Support from Bakkafrost Scotland

The village of Kirn, near Dunoon on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, has received a vibrant gardening makeover, thanks to the dedication of local volunteers and funding from Bakkafrost Scotland’s Community Fund.

The EnviroKirn Action Group was established to care for the environment in Kirn and to promote the health and wellbeing of the local community. Their efforts have transformed a previously under-used space into a welcoming area where people of all ages can come together, learn about gardening and enjoy community events.

With support from Bakkafrost Scotland’s Community Fund, the group has purchased ten new barrel planters, gardening tools and equipment from local garden centres. They’ve also installed an accessible storage unit to support ongoing activities.

Local schoolchildren have already started to benefit from the project, visiting the site to explore the outdoors and discover the joys and educational value of gardening.

Stuart Drummond, Bakkafrost Scotland’s Assistant Harvest Manager in Ardyne, said: “The work the group does makes such a big difference to the feel of the area. It gives us all access to grounds that are beautiful and well maintained. The volunteers also ensure other parts of the village are looked after too.

“I nominated EnviroKirn for the Bakkafrost Scotland Community Fund as what they do fits perfectly with our desire as a company to help the communities we live and work in. There are clear educational benefits too from the gardening work the volunteers have been doing.

“My mum is also a member, so I know first hand the efforts the group put in and how we all benefit as a result.”

A new EnviroKirn committee has recently re-energised the group, with more than 20 new volunteers indicating they are keen to help.

The action group also works closely with Argyll and Bute Council, local schools and HELP (Argyll and Bute) Limited, which has been set up to help the area’s young people with issues like housing, health and wellbeing.

Shirley Macleod, a member of the EnviroKirn Action Group, said: “EnviroKirn was established to look after and develop the gardens and general environment of our village.

“This new energy and enthusiasm in our group, as well as the funding we now have, gives us the chance to develop our work further – creating floral displays, for example, for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.

“The community and local schoolchildren all benefit from the efforts made by this group, from events taking place to learning more about gardening.

“Being able to care for the environment we live in helps improve the health and wellbeing of us all.”

The Bakkafrost Scotland Community Fund offers support for projects that promote health and wellbeing, stewardship of the natural environment or economic development within the local community the business operates in. More information can be found at www.bakkafrostscotland.com.