Patrick Geddes Gardening Club Gardening Classes at Acheson House Community Courtyard

Gardening Workshop on soil - we hope to have lots of worms in our soil

The Patrick Geddes Gardening Club in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council, Bridgend Allotments and the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust are organising gardening classes at Acheson House Community Courtyard.

Google map can be found here 

 Acheson House Community Courtyard overgrown as it was used as a bit of a midden for 2 decades - Jean, Jean and Gordon hard at work

With a little help from the City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership it is cleared

The first gardening class is  on Thursay 21st July 2011 from 16:30 to 18:30 at the Acheson Courtyard, behind the Edinburgh Museum 142 Canongate.

The first class will be about soil and raised beds.

If you can come please do - don't worry if you can't make the full 2 hours.

If you are coming please ensure you have good shoes or boots on, bring gloves if you have them (but don't worry if you dont - we have some).  Expect rain.  Bring juice or water or a flask of tea/coffee.  Biscuits will be provided.

There is no cost for the class and all are welcome, though you will be expected to work in the garden on the basis of each according to their abilty, each according to their need.

The next classes are 4th August, 11th August 2011 and 18th August 2011 from 16:30 to 18:30.  

For further information please contact Chiara Ronchini on  0131 220 7734 or chiararonchini@ewht.org.uk

Everyone is welcome

Greenyonder Tours for 2011

Jean, one of the tour guides and has great knowledge and enthusiasm about gardens, plants and Patrick Geddes 

It's spring again and Greenyonder Tours'  2011 programme will be opening on Easter Sunday with our walking tour Hidden Gardens of the Royal Mile, leaving from outside John Knox House at 2.30 pm.  This would be an enjoyable thing to do if you have visitors over Easter, or if you'd simply like to bring in the spring with an easy walk through plants, history, and new stories about today's gardens.  Royal Mile gardeners are really flourishing - there were two new gardens added last year, and the possibility of two more this year.

The public programme also features occasional tours: By Leaves We Live shows unexpected community gardens past and present around the Castle and Grassmarket, including some original research I've been doing into Patrick Geddes's children's gardens at the turn of last century. Medical herbalist Julia Cook will lead her very popular Healing Herbs in the City. What I love about Julia's tour is her love of all plants, and she'll share her medicinal knowledge about weeds growing through paving stones as much as beautiful plants in formal gardens.

NEW! Last year I took a few group bookings for summer evening tours and realised what a lovely time of day it is, so, for the first time, we're offering a programme of summer evening tours.  Every second Tuesday in May, June and July, we'll offer a range of tours starting at 6.30 pm.  Check here for our special offers - any four summer evening tours for £25 (a saving of between £5 - £11) or any three summer evening tours for £20 (a saving of between £2 - £8).  

The simplest way of checking which tour is on on which day is to use the tour diary.

We take group bookings at any time of year.  There is a wider range of tours available for group bookings, and they're at special group rates, so please do take a look at the website and pass on to anyone who may be interested.  I can post details in leaflet format too.

In the last newsletter I mentioned that I was writing a guide book on the Hidden Gardens of the Royal Mile.  Thank you to everyone who got in touch to give their support to this venture.  I've finished the research - now I just need to finish writing it!  I am still aiming to have it ready for sale in 2011. There, I've committed myself.

NB  Greenyonder will be on holiday between 2 - 22 April.  It is completely safe to pay for and book tours online as the receipt is sent to you automatically by PayPal.  However, I will not be able to process gift vouchers or cards between those dates.  I'll be checking emails once a week.

I look forward to seeing you and your friends in 2011.

Jean

 tel: 0131 444 1725

www.greenyondertours.com

Patrick Geddes Gardening Club January Meeting

One of Patrick Geddes orginal gardens now the Scottish Wildlife Trust smallest reserve on Patrick Geddes Steps of Johnstone Terrace

The Patrick Geddes Gardening Club is to meet on Monday 24th January 2011 at Edinburgh's Larder, Blackfriars Street at 19:00 to 21:00.  Teas and coffe are on sale.

More information on Edinburgh's Larder here

The Patrick Geddes Gardening Club is the Green Sub Group of the Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust, we hope to create a network of gardens inspired by Patrick Geddes vision, to create a unique biosphere in the Old Town of Edinburgh.

We are meeting to discuss Granny's Green in the Grassmarket and our attempts to create a garden there in collaboration with the Grassmarket Mission, Edinburgh World Heritage Trust and the City Centre Neighbourhood Partnership.

You can see a photo of Granny's Green here

We will also be discussing other potential gardens in the Old Town

If you are interested in gardening - you don't need to have any gardening skills or even have gardened before - then please come along.

If you would like to go on the mailing list of the Patrick Geddes Gardening Club please email PGGC@yahoo.co.uk