Growing West Dumbartonshire

Inspiring people to make West Dunbartonshire the best Community Food growing and Garden location in Scotland

Growing West Dumbartonshire

Getting Started

In 2016, The Leamy Foundation, WDC Green space, Lomond Community Allotment Association, Bellsmyre Community Gardens, West Bridgend Community gardens and Faifley Community Allotments established Growing West Dunbartonshire.

Our primary aim is to provide advice and encouragement to people wishing to establish a community garden or food growing activity small or large, or who wish to use our communities green space as sources of positive activities for all our residents.

We are now a collection of up to 45 groups including nurseries, schools, community groups working together to spread the message and share the benefits of local grown food. Since 2016, Growing West Dunbartonshire holds monthly meetings providing residents and groups with support and advice…and the opportunity for a catch up over a tea or coffee.

Growing West Dunbartonshire Support

Promote environmental best practices

Increase awareness and connect groups and schools

Monthly training & Information sessions

Share seeds, plants, produce and equipment.

Annual event showcasing activity across West Dunbartonshire

Growing West Dunbartonshire – a community in action

“We are very lucky in West Dunbartonshire in that we have some wonderful green space resources in our communities.”

Our Community Network

Our Community Network

Growing West Dunbartonshire Spring event.

Central Alexandria Growing space
Central Alexandria Growing space

“It was a fantastic way to increase contacts between our local community groups and schools, increasing confidence, knowledge using growing spaces to grow fruit and veg in our schools.”

Since March 2016, Growing West Dunbartonshire has held an annual spring event the Spring event is a celebration of the diverse and positive range of food growing and gardening activities available in the heart of our communities.

In 2018, we held our first schools environmental science project with schools presenting their food waste carbon footprint impact and food waste reduction recommendations. Among the prize winners was Auchnacraig Nursery in Faifley, which, along with two Dumbarton primary schools, won a prize of a school orchard comprising a dozen apple, plum and pear trees.

“Our participating schools demonstrated how food waste can be reduced with a little effort by making small changes, planning meals, creating shopping lists, using and freezing left overs, know your ‘use by’ dates.

“In a small, one day trial, one school reduced their food waste by 50 per cent by increasing pupil awareness of the impact and cost of food waste. Another reduced food waste going to landfill by composting veg waste. Both estimated a cost of food waste across pupils households of £140,000 per year. So lots of room for improvement.”

"Councillor Marie McNair, Vice Convener of Infrastructure, Regeneration and Economic Development, added: “Having access to outdoor space is vital to our residents’ health and wellbeing so I’m delighted to see so much work going into ensuring there are constant improvements taking place.”

Among 2018 exhits were herbs, fruit, veg, local produce , salsa using locally grown tomatoes. The herbs included, rosemary, parsley, basil and chives, and chutney from locally grown veg and local jam. There was also kitchen garden displays with small herb gardens for kitchens.

Become a Growing West Dunbartonshire member via our facebook page

Growing West Dunbartonshire Facebook Page


Some of our attendees at our first Spring event

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