Precious memories of her childhood growing up in Dumfries’ Lochside planted an idea in Angela Gilmour’s head to recreate the same traditional values for people in the area today.
Co-founder and managing director of Lochside Is Families Together (#LIFT), Angela has been working tirelessly for years to improve the estate for residents.
One of her aims has been to see green spaces come to life. And thanks to a cash boost from Dumfries and Galloway NHS Endowment Fund and the generosity of social housing landlord Wheatley Homes, the first stage of a project to plant hundreds of trees and create a haven for wildlife kicked off last Friday at the aptly named NANA (nature and nurture area) park.
Residents young and old will be able to grow their own plants and vegetables in individual allotments or trees in the wider nature and nurture area.
The land was donated to the community by Wheatley, and members of its neighbourhood environmental team were on hand to show Lincluden Primary pupils Jaycee, Stanley and Tyler how to plant their very own saplings.
Angela decided to name the project after her grandmother. She said: “My Nana, Mary Rogerson, was who I named this project after as she would teach her grandkids about the different types of flora and fauna in her garden.
“She had books on birds, insects and flowers and I have fond memories from that time.
“My nana and papa Albert’s house looks on to the area we will be cultivating and still to this day, their garden is a haven for wildlife.
“I wanted to expand my Nana’s passion into the community we live in.”
Angela added that the NANA park project is not just about growing your own, but improving mental health and physical wellbeing.
She said: “There will be a social aspect to NANA park as it will be a great way for people to meet others with the same interests and give them the opportunity to share advice and experience and to build friendships.
“The area we are creating will be essential for wildlife; cultivating allotments will make the biodiversity levels go up in our area, but we hope the sites will be used and accessible to the elderly or vulnerable people looking to do outdoor activities as well as our younger people and families.
“We want kids to learn about the eco system and the circle of life; to learn about local wildlife and pond life; for them to learn new skills and take care of the space around them and to appreciate what we have on our doorstep.”
More than 300 local children will also be engaging with the project at pop-up NANA sites at schools including North West Community Campus, Lincluden, Laurieknowe and St Teresa’s.
Lincluden Primary acting deputy head, Claire Richardson, said: “This is a great project and it’s wonderful that three of our pupils were the first to plant saplings on this area of land.
“We will definitely be planting trees at our school and hope the children will feel a sense of pride in their community and that they are part of achieving something special.”
Angela also wants people in the area to take pride in the project.
“I’d love for young and old to experience some of those traditions and for them to be proud of where they come from.”
