Community Garden Update

From Pat Glenday

The West Ardnamurchan Community Garden held an EGM on Tuesday evening, specifically to consider
a proposal to change the organisation's structure from a voluntary association to a community interest company. During the first year of the garden's existence, it was not able to sell any of the produce because of the conditions attached to the Climate Challenge Fund grant which covered the cost of establishing the garden. This grant ran out at the end of that year, and since then the garden has had to trade in order to pay its running costs; so we needed to find a structure that permitted trading, while still allowing us to ensure that whatever happened, the garden remained an asset to the community.

We had the benefit of expert advice, funded by a "Just Enterprise" grant, and that resulted in us pursuing the community interest company (CIC) route. CICs are different to normal companies limited by guarantee, because if a CIC ceases to trade its assets are "locked" and must remain within the community. If an ordinary company stops trading the assets will be sold to pay the company's debts. Another possible option would have been to go for charitable status. Charities have access to lots of funding sources that ordinary companies don't, but the accounting requirements are very burdensome. Fortunately, now that CICs are becoming more widely known and accepted, they are able to bid for most types of funding that are open to charities, without having to go through quite as many hoops to comply with accounting requirements. We considered these points at the EGM and agreed, unanimously, that we should become a CIC. The garden is still the West Ardnamurchan Community Garden - that's what it is after all; and the company will be "West Ardnamurchan Produce".

As Diary readers will be aware, the garden suffered quite extensive damage during the December storms, so we took the opportunity at the EGM, to give members an update on progress towards putting everything back together again. Our insurance claim was approved in January, so we will be able to replace the things that were damaged beyond repair. Following the spectacular demise of the polytunnel, we decided we needed to go for one with more internal structure, and that we should have it installed by a specialist company. We will also add a windbreak. These are additional costs not fully covered by the insurance so we are looking to find some extra funds. The meeting considered the options and decided that one thing we could do would be to sell the second polytunnel which is currently in storage (thank you Hughie). Before we sell it though, we do want to check whether there is anybody in the community who would like to form a group to take on this polytunnel - to erect it, maintain it, and run it (independently of the garden at the Sonachan), for local community benefit, in which case we would be pleased to donate it. Please get in touch with Pat Glenday as soon as possible if you would like to pursue this option. If nobody comes forward, we will be advertising the tunnel for sale at the beginning of March. And, for any Diary readers who have a gap in their social diaries on Friday 9 March, we are holding another fund raising dinner at the Sonachan that evening. The last one was a great success and everyone had a wonderful evening, so we do hope you'll be able to come along. Please contact Jacqui Chapple if you'd like to buy tickets. As ever, we are always on the look out for willing volunteers to help out with all aspects of work at the garden. If you have a few hours a week to spare, please contact Anna Wright. The best way to get hold of her is by email annarugrat@hotmail.com