Our Goals

Wellbeing

We aim to create and support welcoming community gardens and other greenspace projects that support wellbeing in Wester Hailes’ council estates.

Community gardens provide participants with a healthy activity close to home that encourages daily physical exercise outdoors, whether that be through gardening itself or through a walk around the space.

Gardens reduce social isolation and loneliness by bringing neighbours together through an enjoyable shared activity.

They provide a field to fork experience – from growing, caring for, and harvesting a wide variety of produce to enjoying it as part of delicious healthy meals whether prepared at home or at community meals.

The gardens provide skills-based learning opportunities, promoting confidence, a sense of value and achievement, and an enhanced quality of life.

In coming years, we hope to learn how to build adventure playgrounds, so we can have positive impact upon physical exercise and Play for local children.

Community

Creates opportunities for positive social interaction between local people, strengthening community ties, resilience and incentive to take an active role in implementing other neighbourhood improvements.

Fosters a sense of community ownership over shared spaces. Gardens and amenities are, as far as possible, built by local residents with the support of our community gardeners, and are developed in consultation with members of the community.

Promotes a sense of being part of something ‘bigger’ through positive contributions to the wider community, e.g. donating produce to local food banks, pantries and other community food outlets.

Establishes beautiful, natural outdoor spaces that instil a sense of pride in and care for shared spaces in the community