https://agnewlane.co.uk Agnew Lane Community Garden Thu, 30 Nov 2023 22:02:37 +0000 https://agnewlane.co.uk en https://agnewlane.co.uk/Home Fri, 25 Nov 2022 14:32:14 +0000 Agnew Lane Community Garden https://agnewlane.co.uk/Home Agnew Lane Community Garden <img width="2048" height="1366" width_o="2048" height_o="1366" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/68c49877627645a60d31da5a590228880730b3bc8359b95ca9aeb00a84686763/unnamed.jpeg" data-mid="160139975" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/68c49877627645a60d31da5a590228880730b3bc8359b95ca9aeb00a84686763/unnamed.jpeg" /> Agnew Lane is disused, privately owned land in the heart of the Govanhill/Crosshill area of Glasgow. Since 2007, when the land was purchased by its current owner, no development has taken place even after several planning permission applications were granted by the council. In 2020 a small group of community gardeners cleaned the lane of dangerous refuse left by the developer, and built a garden from found materials with the intention of donating their produce to local food banks and community groups.&nbsp; This original group has now grown to over 100 people; made up of gardeners, neighbours, community organisers, and local businesses.&nbsp;This website will tell the history of the land until now and then explain the community’s plans to buy the lane and develop it into a garden fit to produce food for donation on a larger scale. <img width="2048" height="1364" width_o="2048" height_o="1364" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dd06e82a961414930e74bb9ae5538fffe4ecde644ea2f49f70a63427fc2778e6/garage.jpeg" data-mid="160145123" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/dd06e82a961414930e74bb9ae5538fffe4ecde644ea2f49f70a63427fc2778e6/garage.jpeg" /> History In 2007 Agnew Lane was purchased by a developer. In 2008 they were granted planning permission by the council to demolish a late 1800’s building which used to be a local bakery. After over 15 years of several planning permission applications approved for development of the land, no works have been carried out and the lane has been largely maintained by the surrounding community. In 2011 South Seeds built a community garden at the lane that had raised beds and fruit trees. The project engaged the community, gathering supporters from the surrounding tenements and Govanhill area. Three years later, after repeated attempts at contacting the land owner, the garden was tragically demolished with little forewarning for materials and plants to be saved. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, a new group of community growers began building a vegetable garden out of found materials with the hopes of donating their produce to local food banks, food points, and community organisations. Working together anonymously, these community growers not only built a safe environment for people to gather during the pandemic, they also cleared the lane of dangerous refuse left by the developer, and have been able to donate fruit and veg during the harvest seasons.&nbsp; In 2021, the developer sent contractors to cut down all the trees at Agnew Lane and level the land for foundations. The growers were able to save the garden by flagging up the fact that the developer’s planning permission had lapsed to both the contractors and council. After a year long investigation during which time the developer submitted evidence and the growers submitted contrary evidence proving their affidavits were false, the council decided to not extend planning permission on the land, thereby stopping the development of eight mews homes and two parking lots. <img width="1366" height="963" width_o="1366" height_o="963" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fe4895155029a6ef42d64558bd56e1eb6c400de8872fbe7f3a36e0c05299bf75/unnamed.jpeg" data-mid="161393582" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/fe4895155029a6ef42d64558bd56e1eb6c400de8872fbe7f3a36e0c05299bf75/unnamed.jpeg" /> The PlanThe history of Agnew Lane begs an important question. What does Govanhill need? More unnaffordable housing? Or community managed green space open to all?As growers, neighbours, and local community organisers, we have answered that question and formed a community body to pursue a buyout of Agnew Lane. Our intention is to facilitate development of the land by the community, for the benefit of the community. What we envisage is a garden capable of not only supplying the community with free veg and fruit, but also providing grounds for native species of plants, insects, and animals to coexsist.What we envisage is a place for learning: learning about our neighbours, learning how to build, encourage biodiversity, and cultivate food. What we envisage is community empowerment pushing back against disenfranchisement, food insecurity, and environmental degredation in the urban environment.&nbsp; An in depth look... We have pulled together a pretty impressive initial proposal for how the community body intends to develop Agnew Lane. Click ︎&nbsp;here&nbsp; to read some of that proposal, which is currently being considered by Scottish Ministers. <img width="1366" height="963" width_o="1366" height_o="963" data-src="https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5740796f444f246abf9b77cea61c77ceacbf59d48263beaf1debe6a5cc9cb3dd/unnamed2.jpg" data-mid="161393583" border="0" src="https://freight.cargo.site/w/1000/i/5740796f444f246abf9b77cea61c77ceacbf59d48263beaf1debe6a5cc9cb3dd/unnamed2.jpg" /> Want to get involved?We put out a quarterly newsletters in line with Solstices and Equinoxes. These are good ways to keep up to date on our progress and also find ways to chip in. We will share future projects and any missing resources we might need. Follow the link below to sign up via Mailchimp. Alternatively, you can follow our goings on via Instagram and Facebook. Feel free to just get in touch with us directly as well.Finally, if you fancy getting your hands dirty, we hold community gardening days most Sundays from 13:00 at the lane. All are welcome! https://agnewlane.co.uk/Read-More Thu, 30 Nov 2023 21:12:06 +0000 Agnew Lane Community Garden https://agnewlane.co.uk/Read-More ︎ Proposal In the&nbsp;Public Interest ︎ Sustainable Development︎ https://agnewlane.co.uk/Public-Interest Thu, 30 Nov 2023 22:02:37 +0000 Agnew Lane Community Garden https://agnewlane.co.uk/Public-Interest Public Interest ALL’s development of Agnew Lane will be of benefit to the community environmentally, socially, and economically. Environmentally Sustainable Development: -Beginning with our intended remediation and detoxification of Agnew Lane, ALL’s development will transform derelict and neglected land into a place for wildlife to thrive and a place where people can congregate and grow food safely. -Agnew Lane will provide what is increasingly lacking within Glasgow’s urban neighbourhoods; a place where native plants persist and communities can gather to learn how to care for and maintain them. -The introduction of trees, shrubs, native flowers and plants, bug habitats and standing water will further encourage animals, birds, insects, pollinators and amphibians to occupy, persist and flourish at Agnew Lane. -The garden at Agnew Lane will be designed for education and inspiration with an emphasis on sustainability, looking after the natural environment, and understanding where our food comes from. A fully equipped community kitchen will allow groups to cook delicious meals with ingredients sourced straight from the garden. -The educational opportunities at Agnew Lane will create further conditions for people to come together with a fuller and more connected sense of who they are and what they are a part of, to support them to practically contribute to ecological change. -The intention is that this will then catalyse more planting and gardening in the wider community. Socially Sustainable Development: -The need for urban outdoor space in which to sit, work, talk, and meet people is&nbsp; undeniably beneficial for individuals and communities -Agnew Lane is situated within the diverse community of&nbsp; Govanhill, a neighbourhood that is high on the Index of Multiple Deprivations, with a large proportion of overcrowded households,&nbsp; unemployment, and in-work poverty. -Since Agnew Lane was established in 2020, it has been a place of collaboration, making new friends, social integration, and learning. It offers respite to people who have felt excluded from social and economic participation in society. -If developed by the community, Agnew Lane will continue to offer these social benefits, with an additional sense of community ownership, decision making and responsibility.&nbsp; Economically Sustainable Development: -Upskilling opportunities will be provided throughout all phases of the proposed development. -ALL will continue to work in partnership with local community organisations whose purpose is to provide free educational opportunities. Milk Cafe on Victoria Road offers services and activities for women asylum seekers.&nbsp; Rumpus Room is a youth lead arts organisation that provides skills based&nbsp; workshops to children and young people. These collaborations will ensure the inclusion of community members interested in learning new skills throughout the&nbsp; development of Agnew Lane. This upskilling will likely lead participants toward more formal education and work opportunities by providing them with experience and putting them in contact with local practitioners and contractors who could serve as conduits for professional pursuits outside Agnew Lane. &nbsp; https://agnewlane.co.uk/Sustainable-Development Thu, 30 Nov 2023 21:59:52 +0000 Agnew Lane Community Garden https://agnewlane.co.uk/Sustainable-Development Sustainable Development Community ownership of Agnew Lane is highly compatible with furthering the achievement of sustainable development and directly supports the Council's economic, social and environmental policies. It will bring land which has long been vacant into productive use for significant benefit to the local community.&nbsp; Without community acquisition, Agnew Lane is likely to continue to lay derelict and remain a barrier to the sustainable development of this local area.&nbsp; Our proposals will further the achievement of sustainable development of the land at Agnew Lane and the community: In Phase One by: -Maintaining a green space for the community to continue to enjoy, -Continuing to provide spaces for growing fresh fruit and vegetables in raised beds, -Using organic detoxification methods to remediate Agnew Lane in order to ensure the safety of wildlife on the site and allow direct-sowing into the ground soil in future. In Phase Two and Three by continuing the benefits above and: -Ensuring that any building works are designed and constructed to be low impact, -Incorporating pre-existing structures into any new construction or re-using materials, -Using local networks to source free and recycled materials where possible for example from Glasgow Circular Arts Network, -Reducing lengthy transportation of materials by sourcing them locally, -Providing local economic development through training opportunities in construction projects, natural building techniques and food growing, -Minimising the use of virgin materials such as brick, cement, metal, and plastic in construction designs, -Sourcing funding for the installation of sustainable energy technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps to lower the development’s impact, and provide income opportunities. In Phase Four by continuing the benefits above and: -Fully developing the majority of Agnew Lane into a garden with a focus on a place for native plants to thrive. -Setting aside a significant portion of Agnew Lane for native plants to persist and flourish. Plants that will not only encourage pollinators, birds, animals and insects but will also allow for a healthy environment for growing vegetables and fruit. -Introducing trees, shrubs, native flowers, bug habitat and standing water for amphibious animals. These would in turn support and encourage the swifts, bats and other wildlife that already use Agnew Lane as a hunting ground. In Phase Five by continuing the benefits above and: -Encouraging a collaborative environment where multiple community oriented organisations and individuals can exist and work together, -Producing vegetables and fruit for donation to local food banks and food points, and standing as a food point itself, where food can be harvested by those who need it most, -Installing and maintaining a wood workshop where physical development of Agnew Lane will take place and upskilling opportunities will be offered, contributing to local economic development, -Offering workshops in multiple disciplines as a way of educating the community about growing, wildlife, building, cooking, art, etc., -Producing locally sourced and organic compost that will not only be fed back into the ALL gardens, but also supply local growers in their development of growing environments outside of Agnew Lane, -Providing a community kitchen where food can be cooked and culture can be shared, -Engaging Govanhill youth and young people to become art activists. Agnew Lane Ltd’s ethos is one of openness and respect for the natural world and native species that are often damaged or altogether eliminated in urban environments. We believe that as more urban land is developed, equivalent areas of land should be set aside for native species to persist. We have an obligation as urban dwellers to make our environment hospitable for plants and animals to thrive. For this reason, pursuing a community buyout of Agnew Lane is ideal and in keeping with the Council’s environmental aims and sustainable development. ALL’s proposed development of Agnew Lane will enable and preserve natural resources and ecosystems which will in turn become platforms from which community needs are met and community growth can become possible. https://agnewlane.co.uk/Proposal Thu, 30 Nov 2023 21:56:32 +0000 Agnew Lane Community Garden https://agnewlane.co.uk/Proposal The Proposal Agnew Lane Ltd (ALL) proposes to develop Agnew Lane sustainably as an educational experience, and build an environment for fostering the physical and mental wellbeing of community members through building, gardening, and sharing. This will encourage a sense of mutual ownership over and respect for the land that is Agnew Lane. It will protect and enhance urban biodiversity, whilst offering educational and upskilling opportunities for anyone interested in learning. This proposal includes a phased plan that is outlined below: Phase One - Remediation: It is believed Agnew Lane could be contaminated from previous industry (Bakery building onsite from 1890’s - 2008, which was used as material storage and office space for building contractors for a few decades prior to demolition). We will obtain soil analysis and establish a remediation plan. We plan to collaborate with&nbsp; researchers in order to use organic detoxification methods, such as bioremediation and mycoremediation. This will allow us to eventually direct-sow into the ground-soil, and will ensure the environment is a healthy one for wildlife. As part of our remediation plan, ALL has been in contact with Glasgow University’s GALLANT project to establish a working relationship with their researchers to approach organic remediation of the land. GALLANT have funding available for studies within community projects like Agnew Lane Community Garden. Phase Two - Establish/Reactivate Infrastructure: Installation/Reopening of mains electricity and water in line with The Scottish Land Commission guidance. Phase Three - Repair of Existing Structures, Building of New Low-Impact Structures, Installation of Renewable Energy:&nbsp; The community will repair derelict structures at the southwestern corner of Agnew Lane and build new low impact structures collectively. All building will be done by the community with support from local architects and contractors. This will allow for up-skilling opportunities and foster a sense of ownership over the land. These structures will act as sites for the community to gather, stay dry, access facilities, and supply resources from which to build the gardens. The buildings will house a community kitchen, a youth arts studio, and a wood workshop. In addition to building low impact structures, ALL intends to seek funding from Local Energy Scotland to install renewable technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps, which should allow ALL to achieve net zero emissions. With this, ALL will also endeavour to implement the Smart Export Guarantee in order to be paid for every unit of electricity fed back into the grid. As an aside to its organic remediation support, GALLANT has also indicated interest in helping ALL with the installation of renewable energy systems. Phase Four - Construct the gardens: The gardens will occupy the majority of the land at Agnew. Construction will include installing vegetable and native flower beds, composting bays, building a greenhouse, establishing ponds for wildlife, encouraging a wooded area and wild growth areas. Agnew Lane is an ideal location to grow. It is sheltered from high winds by the surrounding buildings and trees, with a good amount of light throughout the year. It is already home to many insects, birds, amphibians, and other animals. ALL hopes to build with those creatures in mind, encouraging and thereby increasing biodiversity while engaging the commmunity in a conversation around the importance of this within an urban environment and ecosystem. Phase Five - Operations: Once constructed the gardens will be maintained by ALL staff, and the community as educational opportunities. Maintenance of Agnew Lane will be funded by the proceeds from workshop rental, compost sales, paid-for workshops, studio rental, kitchen rental, grants, and fundraising events. ALL is partnered with Plant Grow Share Ltd, an organisation set up to support urban growers to donate their surpluses to food banks and food points local to their growing sites. Through this relationship, all fruit and vegetables produced at Agnew Lane will either be donated to local food banks and food points, or given away from the garden itself. With the help of Plant Grow Share, ALL hopes to make the Agnew Lane a food point in and of itself, where people from the area can come and harvest food for themselves, build relationships with the gardeners, learn, and get involved. ALL has relationships with many builders, labourers, and makers across the South Central area of Glasgow. These people will be responsible for the physical development of the Agnew Lane and any upskilling activities that take place along the way for the community. The wood workshop will be the locus from which the buildings and gardens will be built. It will then remain onsite as an environment for learning. When not being used for educational purposes, it will be a rentable studio. All income from the workshop rental will feed back into the maintenance of Agnew Lane. The composting bays that will be constructed in Phase Four will be large enough for the surrounding area to supply its food waste. With neighbours and local businesses encouraged to bring their food waste to Agnew Lane, ALL will produce organic and locally sourced compost for growers outside the Agnew Lane to develop or expand their own growing sites. Compost prices will reflect the current rate for similar products in Scotland. ALL facilitators will offer both paid-for and free workshops to the community. Workshops will be designed around the following outcomes; gardening for food, gardening for pollinators, horticulture, botany, building and woodworking, cooking, and art. Workshops will not be limited to this list. ALL hopes to utilise the wealth of practitioners and varied cultural identities in the Govanhill area, thereby broadening its employment to include individuals outside the ALL community body who could benefit from the experience of teaching.&nbsp; ALL is partnered with Rumpus Room Ltd, which has a longstanding relationship to the neighbourhood’s youth and young people. The youth arts studio will operate via independently secured arts funding along with various forms of fundraising activities such as art markets and paid for workshops. Rumpus Room will pay to occupy the youth arts studio. The rental of that space will feed back into the maintenance of the Agnew Lane. ALL is partnered with the social enterprise Milk Cafe, which has been empowering and supporting women from refugee and migrant backgrounds since 2015. It will be through this partnership that ALL will build and operate its community kitchen. The kitchen will be used regularly for workshops and events. Food grown at Agnew Lane will be prepared for larger social gatherings, which will not only provide some income for the maintenance of Agnew Lane, but also encourage an atmosphere of sharing and learning about the multiple food cultures present in the neighbourhood. Inevitably there will be a great deal of crossover between the types of foods grown at the lane and the kitchen itself. https://agnewlane.co.uk/Contact-Us Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:29:38 +0000 Agnew Lane Community Garden https://agnewlane.co.uk/Contact-Us Contact Us You can email us at agnewlane@gmail.com Agnew Lane is just off the corner of Langside Road and Albert Road in the heart of Govanhill. Come and visit anytime! https://agnewlane.co.uk/Newsletter Thu, 08 Dec 2022 16:25:18 +0000 Agnew Lane Community Garden https://agnewlane.co.uk/Newsletter Quarterly Newsletter #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:600px;} /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. 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