Climate award for Raploch garden scheme
- Published
The project encourages people to grow their own food
A grow-your-own project in Stirling has been awarded a government grant to help transform green ideas into action.
The Raploch Community Partnership has been given £35,494 by the Scottish government to aid its bid to save more than five tonnes of carbon emissions.
The project encourages the community to grow its own food and so reduce emissions from transport and waste.
Dozens of other initiatives in Scotland have also been given cash from the Climate Challenge Fund (CCF).
Garden tools
Carol Aldrid, from Low Carbon Raploch, said the idea of the project was to make a plot of unproductive land into a garden for the community.
She said: "We'll support people who wish to grow their own vegetables. It's also about raising awareness of food and how food miles contribute to your carbon footprint."
People will be able to rent allotments or help maintain and harvest communal plots.
Advice on growing and garden tools will also be made available.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie said: "This unique fund has helped communities in Stirling and across Scotland to start seeing the other positive results that can come from acting together to tackle climate change.
"Community groups have set their own agenda and devised their own projects, and it has been truly inspirational to see them putting these good ideas into practice."
Community spirit
Mr Harvie said the schemes helped local food suppliers and encouraged healthier living as well as being good for the environment.
The CCF has £27.4m to distribute to green projects.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said the fund had helped 261 communities in Scotland.
He added: "As well as realising the carbon-cutting potential of all projects, CCF has encouraged real community spirit - a spirit I've found to be infectious while visiting CCF projects up and down the country.
"Across the seven rounds of CCF, I have been heartened by Stirling communities' enthusiasm for hands-on action in our battle against climate change."
The Scottish government has a target to cut emissions by 42% before 2020.