COMMUNITY GARDENING
Known as Glasgow’s last remaining village, Carmunnock is rich in character, with its eighteenth-century church, listed cottages, and a unique history in handloom weaving. The Low Green, once a drying area for affluent Glaswegians’ laundry, remains a central green space in the heart of the village. By 2016, however, this cherished area, and others like it, began to lose their once well-tended appeal as reducing budgets meant that Glasgow City Council could no longer maintain the planters or communal spaces.
Thanks to the tireless dedication of Carmunnock’s Community Gardening Group, the village’s green spaces are not only thriving, they are a source of pride, connection, and joy for residents and visitors alike.
Thankfully, Carmunnock has long held gardening close to its heart. Since 1947, the Carmunnock and District Horticultural Society has been a fixture in village life, most notably through its annual Flower Show each August. With 19 trophies up for grabs, it’s a highlight of the late summer social calendar and a celebration of floral flair.
Carmunnock has always been a village of doers, and its residents were not about to let their beloved green spaces go to seed. When the Council stepped back, the Society stepped up. A new Community Gardening Group was formed under the Society’s wing and a modest band of six volunteers began meeting every Wednesday morning to bring the village spaces back to life.
In exchange for taking on the care of communal areas, the Council agreed to support by cutting grass, pruning trees, and removing green waste. As council budgets dwindled further though, more of those duties quietly fell away, leaving the gardening group to do even more with even fewer resources.
Over time, the group secured vital funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Linn Community Fund, and Scotland Loves Local, allowing them to invest in compost, plants, bulbs, and even additional benches to make newly restored spaces more welcoming.
The annual Big Carmunnock Plant Sale has become a firm fixture, offering bedding plants, hanging baskets, and well-loved perennials - sold with generous helpings of planting advice. Although proceeds help fund some of the group’s activities, a significant portion is also donated to support both village halls - an act that reflects the group’s wider commitment to community.
The Wednesday gardening mornings have become more than just a working party. They are now a weekly ritual of an hour of planting, weeding, and laughter, followed by a takeaway cuppa, a catch-up, and more laughter - the rhythm has remained as comforting as it is productive. During the COVID years, this outdoor gathering became a vital social outlet when restrictions allowed, helping maintain wellbeing and community spirit.
Janette Ryder moved to Carmunnock just before COVID’s lockdown hit and once gardening resumed she went along to a Wednesday morning session, “Having never been a joiner of clubs before, I thought I would try it as I have enjoyed gardening in the past - it was the best thing I have ever done. I have made so many friends which has led to many social occasions and outings as well as all the gardening fun. This truly is a very special village.”
Today, the group has grown to almost 30 members and crucially, it is built around inclusivity and flexibility. Volunteers range in age, mobility, and gardening experience, and tasks are designed so that everyone can take part. From pruning and planting, to tea-making and chatting, there is always a job for everyone.
Carol Hutchison said, “Moving to the village as a complete stranger, I was invited to join the community gardeners. What a fabulous group of friendly and welcoming people. I now feel completely integrated into village life and thoroughly enjoy the varied activities we gardeners get up to.”
This sentiment of welcome is echoed by Angela McClelland who added, “Being part of this group has helped include me into the community. This is such a great group of people.”
Beyond flowers and foliage, the group has made a point of involving the wider village. Each autumn, a family bulb planting morning invites residents of all ages to help prepare for spring. Children from the local nursery and primary school join in too, with gardeners pre-digging holes so even the tiniest hands can drop a bulb and learn about the journey from bulb to bloom.
Volunteers have also helped to weed, plant, and lay bark in the nursery garden, and even spent an evening with the local Brownie unit, helping the girls earn their gardening badges.
In partnership with the local church and school, the group installed four handmade nest boxes, made by the children, in the churchyard to encourage habitat for birds. It is these collaborations that knit the social fabric of Carmunnock more tightly.
There is a great sense of community in Carmunnock where many organisations work together for the good of the village. Over the past few years, the Community Gardening Group’s efforts extend well beyond the flowerbeds of the Low Green. They have taken on a significant role in either initiating or supporting a wide range of events, from providing hanging baskets to decorate the stage at the annual village Gala, to supporting the work of W.I.L.D. in reestablishing willow coppicing in the woodland on the edge of the village.
They now maintain over 20 planters, a rockery, an expanding rose garden, four formal beds, and the War Memorial planting. They’ve cleared and marked paths, hand-weeded kerbsides, and worked with other village groups to support events like Glasgow’s Annual Doors Open Day.
Winter does not slow down the Community Gardening Group: planters are dressed with seasonal decorations, baubles are hung on village trees to bring festive cheer, and the gardeners even erect their own Christmas tree complete with hand-made decorations. The commitment of Carmunnock’s community gardeners is year-round, ensuring gardening continues, whatever the weather.
The group is also thoughtful about its environmental impact. Two large leaf compost bins help manage green waste, and all planting uses peat-free compost. Pollinator-friendly and drought-tolerant species are prioritised, and planting schemes carefully balance visual impact with low-maintenance resilience.
In 2023, the group planted a memorial tree, a Metasequoia glyptostroboides, and a dedicated flower bed in honour of John Kinloch, a driving force behind both the Horticultural Society and the Community Gardeners.
In 2021, the group entered Keep Scotland Beautiful’s ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ initiative and were assessed at Level 4 – Thriving. Just one year later, they achieved the top accolade: Level 5 – Outstanding. The assessor remarked, “To say that the group’s community footprint is buoyant is an understatement. The community gardeners ensure Glasgow’s last village is a gardening palette for all. The village is a horticultural gem.”
In March 2025, the community gardeners were invited to Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden to be presented with a Horticultural Group Award from the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in recognition of its well-deserved achievements.
Sandra Hawkins, Chair for the last three and a half years said, “We were very pleased to be awarded our Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards but the icing on the cake was being recognised by The Caley. The group are all delighted with the award which will be photocopied and put on our village noticeboard.”
With another ‘Evening of Gardening Talks’ already planned after a sell-out 2023 event, and an agricultural heritage installation featuring an old potato picker now established to reflect the village’s farming heritage, Carmunnock’s Community Gardening Group continues to innovate and inspire as it brings gardeners together, sparks conversation, and raises funds for future planting.
As spring returns to Carmunnock, and daffodils start to nod on the Low Green and around the village, the work of this incredible team is visible in every border, basket, and bed. More than just a gardening group, they’ve created a community within a community.
In a world where green spaces can be undervalued, this group is proof of what is possible when people come together to care for their place, their plants, and each other.
Come and be part of our Scotland Grows' Facebook Readers' Group for lots of garden chat, and a place to ask advice, and seek inspiration!