A green-fingered East Renfrewshire group marked its growing success with a harvest festival this month.
The event was hosted by Incredible Edible Neilston and took place at the village’s scout and community hall on Sunday, September 11.
More than 100 people turned out for the festival, which was funded by the Dandelion programme, which encourages people in Scotland to sow, grow and share food, music and ideas.
To celebrate everything the group have grown this year, those coming along enjoyed sampling some produce, and host of activities such as face painting and rock painting in the hall’s renovated garden, which was completed earlier this summer, as well as a performance from Neilston Strings.
“I’m so proud of everything we’ve achieved this growing year as a group,” said Cat Train who founded the group, which is part of a UK-wide community movement encouraging people to grow fruit, vegetables and herbs in public spaces which anyone can pick for free.
“What a beautiful harvest festival to celebrate, food, music, friendships and community.
“We had tables of freshly picked local produce, including the biggest cabbage we have ever seen.
“The whole event culminated in a big family ceilidh which was beautiful chaos.”
Those coming along were invited to bring a picnic and any fruit, veg or herbs they had grown and wished to share.
Cookery school Totnosh, which is based in Neilston Main Street, demonstrated how to make yummy soup, which everyone got to taste and was made from ingredients currently growing in Incredible Edible’s planter on Kirkstyle Lane.
Louisa McKay, the founder and class leader at Totnosh, also cooked up an apple crumble with apples picked at Barrhead Water Works.
W.I.L.D woodland learning, who run a forest school in Linn Park, ran some nature-based activities and the gave children the chance to roast marshmallows over a fire.
The Folk’s Music Project, which provides traditional music tuition and hosts a session, open to all, once a month at The Bank community hub, in the village, had instruments for people to come and try.
While Dan Serridge took youngsters on magic adventures with his storytelling.
There were also ‘melt and pour’ soups for the children to make.
“It was a lovely community event and great to be able to offer everything for free due to our funding from the Dandelion festival,” added Cat.
“We’re really grateful to the scouts for letting us use their hall and garden.
“We are hoping to do more work with the scouts to further develop their garden space in future.”
To find out more about the group visit facebook.com/IncredibleEdibleNeilston.
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