Get Growing Scotland

Branchton Gardening Club

Branchton Gardening Club (BGC) in Greenock, Inverclyde, started in July 2021. With a focus on food growing and cooking, the group of 15 currently operates in two locations in the local area: the local public park for fruit and flower growing, and the fenced-off community centre garden for vegetable and herb growing. Accessing land in Branchton has not been easy, so partnering with the Branchton Community Centre has enabled the group to develop unused ground surrounding the centre into a learning and training area. This mutually beneficial relationship supports both the centre and the gardening club’s goal to improve their local community and reduce food poverty in an area of economic disadvantage.
Through hands-on gardening workshops, community events, and the regular donation of fresh produce via the community centre’s shop, the group inspires people of all ages and abilities to join their growing movement. Families are encouraged to get involved through activities like the annual Sunflower Challenge and workshops centred on nature, wellbeing, and sustainability. The club also runs beginner-friendly courses designed to help people start growing food at home, build confidence to manage an allotment, or get involved in one of the many community gardens across Inverclyde.

Guy Cesar, Community Garden Coordinator, is a skilled horticulturist and passionate advocate for growing food connections:

““We know that it’s by nurturing small successes that a passion for food growing and home cooking develops. To support this, we focus on growing familiar fruits and vegetables throughout the season and encourage the use of locally grown produce by sharing simple recipes based on current crops. In gardening, we tend to analyse problems from the roots up—and I strongly believe that by showing people how easy it can be to grow food, we can reconnect them to it. At the heart of everything are our children. From the early years onwards, children deserve a better understanding of where food comes from and the value of freshly grown produce. And with healthy eating habits comes the need to grow and harvest our own food. Now more than ever, people are realising the importance of protecting the planet by reducing carbon emissions and limiting harmful pesticides and fertilisers. They are also becoming more aware of the value of healthy eating and the need for a varied diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. The ongoing cost of living crisis highlights just how difficult it is for many to access fresh produce. If we want more food, we need more food growers! We, as garden enthusiasts, know that it’s possible to grow food almost anywhere, almost anytime (within reason!)—but most people don’t know this. We must show them that there are simple, accessible ways to grow food, even in small spaces, even on a shady windowsill. And once the love of gardening takes root, people will be drawn to local community gardens or even start new growing projects across Scotland.”

Branchton Gardening Club, after a tough start to the year due to severe damage caused by Storm Eowyn, is already busy preparing for the growing season ahead. They are ambitious to embed the learning, share knowledge with others, and expand their growing so that more people might benefit. But this requires more land, so the group is looking at unlocking the potential of local private gardens as a way to grow local resilience through growing more skills and connections.