Cockburnspath Allotment Association: Growing a Community
The Cockburnspath Allotment Association has completed work on a project that's more than just a growing space - it's a hub helping grow the community.
In January of this year, and following an award of just over £18,000 from the Co’path & Cove Community Fund to install a new Polycrub polytunnel, we reported on the work of the Cockburnspath Allotment Association and how they were using that award.
The project has now been completed, and the project has created much more than just a growing space - it has become a warm, welcoming community hub that brings people together and helped grow the community.
Background and Project Overview
The Cockburnspath Allotment Association has grown to understand that modern community spaces work best when they serve multiple purposes, by bringing people together and offering a range of opportunities. What originally started as a standard allotment has grown and transformed over the years into a vibrant and welcoming space, and this was the main driver for originally applying for a second Polycrub Polytunnel.
The site now offers even greater opportunities for visitors, creating a welcoming atmosphere that the managing committee believes has actively encouraged community involvement.
The environment naturally invites people to explore and consider participating, fostering a friendly space where everyone feels comfortable joining growing activities and connecting with their neighbours.
What This Means for the Community
Growing Together, All Year Round: The new polytunnel has enhanced the existing growing infrastructure, enabling the community to maintain growing activities regardless of Scotland's variable weather conditions. This expansion has increased cultivation capacity while establishing dedicated educational spaces for local schools.
A Place for Everyone: The association established a small seating area with tea and coffee-making facilities. This gathering space has created a unique community space that enhances the overall allotment experience and provides a relaxed social space.
To support with accessibility the new polytunnel has included enhanced accessibility measures to ensure equitable access across the gardening space. Raised bed installations provide accessible growing plots, while ongoing infrastructure improvements include pathway widening to accommodate wheelchairs and mobility aids.
People attending the allotment don’t just come from the local village of Cockburnspath & Cove, they come from the surrounding areas, including Dunbar and Oldhamstocks. It was interesting to note that some of the gardeners had gardens they tended on their own properties. However, they still tended a garden in the allotment as the social interaction and space provided benefits to their overall health and well-being.
Solving Real Problems Together: The allotment addresses a logistical challenge for local community of Cockburnspath & Cove, by providing a convenient green waste disposal point. The on-site collection system enables neighbours to deposit grass clippings and garden prunings, which are processed into high-quality compost for use across the growing areas. This circular waste management approach transforms disposal costs and transportation challenges into a valuable community resource. The compost is used as part of a no-dig gardening system, where organic matter is laid on top of the soil rather than digging it in, leaving the soil undisturbed while enriching it.
Multi-Purpose Community Facility: The polytunnel serves as a versatile venue for both cultivation activities and community gatherings. During inclement weather, the facility provides a sheltered environment where members can continue horticultural activities while engaging in informal social interaction over refreshments. The space accommodates various educational and practical workshops, including children's environmental education sessions and food preservation activities.
The weather-protected environment ensures that community engagement can continue throughout Scotland's challenging seasonal conditions, maintaining social connections year-round.
The Connected Benefits of Community Gardening
The Cockburnspath Allotment Association has created a natural network of community services. This joined-up approach means that the initial £18,000 investment creates benefits that support and strengthen each other.
Wider Impact and Community Growth
The success of this project demonstrates how community investment can create positive change by creating a thriving, welcoming community space that impacts the environment and people’s health and welling. The real success lies not just in the building itself, but in understanding that community spaces work best when they serve different purposes and welcome everyone. The allotment's friendly atmosphere, combined with its practical services and accessible design, has created somewhere that people are drawn to and genuinely enjoy being part of.
Read more about the Co’path & Cove Community Fund here.