The student-led organisation provides sustainable practice and food-growing areas across Aberdeen
By: Evelyn Bayerlein
Chairman of Cultivate Aberdeen, George Bellamy. Courtesy of George Bellamy.
A sustainable practice and food-growing project in Aberdeen has secured £30,000 in initial funding.
Cultivate Aberdeen was started in 2018 by University of Aberdeen students working to help out in the community. Their website states “18% of children in Aberdeen are living in poverty”, and they hope to help with food insecurity in the Aberdeen area.
George Bellamy, Chairman of Cultivate Aberdeen and UoA Student, said, “we’re delighted to be able to finally move forward with our project to create kind, confident, connected communities through the power of food growing. Our flagship site at St Fitticks’ is receiving a £30,000 investment in phase one, which will make the site accessible, establish a tiered orchard and restore the existing planters”.
“We know food-growing has a vast array of benefits beyond growing healthy food. We will be using this site to promote the ‘Natural Health Service’, intergenerational learning, mental health and wellbeing, along with outdoor education and recreation – and of course healthy diets.
“The site will also be a wonderful addition to the area, and with many now appreciating the need to protect and utilise local green spaces, especially in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions, we hope the wider impact of this development will be felt by the community for years to come”.
“We’re so grateful to all the partners and individuals who have supported us along this journey, especially the Older Peoples’ Network, whose vision to have a community orchard we’re realising, and our funders: Aberdeen City Council, Dragados UK, Scottish Water and The National Lottery Awards for All”.
According to its website, Cultivate Aberdeen is looking to recruit a new trustee in the role of Treasurer. To join its Board or get involved with Cultivate Aberdeen, you can visit www.cultivateaberdeen.co.uk or contact info@cultivateaberdeen.co.uk.
Cultivate Aberdeen SCIO is a registered Scottish Charity (SC048720) with ‘a vision to create kind, confident, connected communities through the power of food-growing’.
