My visit to Ravenscraig Walled Garden

Media Volunteer, Karen, recently headed down to Ravenscraig Walled Garden and documents her visit in this blog.

On the day I visited the Ravenscraig Walled Garden, I asked several people on my brisk course through Ravenscraig park if they could point me in the right direction. Of course, I’d checked Google Maps before I left but I still wasn’t sure. 

I entered the park through the first entrance on the right, then turned left to cut straight across the middle to the other end of the park. When I could go forward no more, I turned left. There I passed an open wooden structure and turned left again. Halfway along a dirt road, I met a volunteer from the garden and he confirmed I had arrived at the right place

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Inside the wall, it was like a Tardis. From the outside, one has no clue how big the garden is. Allotments took up the central section of the garden with a road circling it.

As I turned to my left to head towards the big hut where I could see a few people, I spotted a bug hotel. I’d seen one a student of mine had built himself, but this one was four times the size! In front of the hotel sat a small pond with stepping stones. 

At the hut, I met Carol from Greener Kirkcaldy. She welcomed me and invited me to explore the site before the 11 am tea break. I left a young woman volunteer planting ruby chard seeds in tiny pots and strolled past some raised beds and joined the road. After a few steps, I stood to one side to let a gentleman on a quad vehicle with a trailer go past. However, he stopped, and we chatted about the garden and the weather. A few minutes later, he carried on to where he was going. 

A little further on, I stopped to photograph some sheds on my left. They hugged the wall obscuring them from the park goers. I particularly enjoyed the one with the plaque below.  

My circuit took me around the end of the allotments and up the other side. Many of the plots were just earth, but I recognised a few familiar plants.

Attracted by the proud daffodils bathed in spring sunshine, I lingered to take a snap. You can see the tree line and wall behind the flowers and allotments.

To the left of the daffodils, there’s a wee hut for training sessions. Note the solar panel!

After my stroll it was elevenses. Carol and Ross put on a grand spread of tea, coffee, and assorted snacks. Most welcome!

I learned that volunteers came to the walled garden to help out with various seasonal tasks. Fridays, especially, are a popular day for visitors. 

Carol and Ross that work in the gardens always welcome willing hands to help with a variety of gardening activities in the Ravenscraig Community Training Garden.

There are some upcoming Community Garden Open Days on  Saturdays: July 30th and August 27th. Find more details here.