A Gaggle of Guerrillas

Shown left is how this Prestonpans High Street site looked at 6.30 this morning.

Shortly after this photograph was taken, fellow guerrilla gardener Rosie turned up, armed with violas, laurels and pansies.

As we began turning over the soil (and discovering several fragments of pottery which Prestonpans is famous for), Anne arrived with a golden conifer, violas and water.

Lucy-Ann and Andrea came along with trays of pretty chrysanthemums and we set to work.

It took less than an hour to fill the plot with daffodil and tulip bulbs, bedding plants, cordyline, heathers, artemisia and a boulder from the beach as a centre piece.

By this time it was light and people were starting to mill about so we went our separate ways, to catch some ZZZZzzz.

As we left the site a flock of pink footed geese flew overhead. Or is it a gaggle? or skein? What is the collective noun for geese? Come to think of it, what is the collective noun for guerrillas. A mask of guerrillas? A balaclava? I ♥ East Lothian. I ♥ guerrilla gardening.

A huge thank you to the fabulous people who gave up their time, plants and water to make this happen.

The location can be viewed here (switch to Bird's Eye View). Feel free to water and weed as necessary!

Unprepossessing in Porty or... Bath Street Bombsite... (Portobello)

On heading down Bath Street (off Portobello High Street) towards the promenade... there's a site that's been vacant for years...


















Get a little closer...






Find a gap at the side of the fencing and squeeze through...








Penetrate the jungle and debris...













And lo and behold.... what do we have 'ere then??







A tarmacked hell or could this be turned into a wildlife h(e)aven...?








The very least we could do I suppose is liberate the bench and pots??



This site is privately owned but the owner has been in touch with PEDAL (http://www.pedal-porty.org.uk/) and is amenable to the site being turned into some kind of community garden. PEDAL have contacted us to see if we would be interested in taking this project on?

Would be a big undertaking but on the plus side we would have the backing of PEDAL and the owner...

If we leafletted the local area (where there are obviously some very keen gardeners), we could get local residents involved...

There is grant money out there for this kind of venture which PEDAL may be able to access for us. The owner may well be prepared to pay for the cost of skips etc to get the site cleared. Needs a lot more thought and consideration.... A meeting with the owner would be a good starting point and to have a proper look round the site. May be a good project to consider for the New Year? Let me know what you think!

Get your kicks on route 26!

On Saturday 26th September, two exciting but different projects are taking place in Prestonpans.

For those of you who don't know The 'Pans, it is just along the coast from Musselburgh on the 26 bus route (or 129 but I couldn't think of a song for that).

The first event is a stealth guerrilla gardening operation. The site is small but perfectly formed patch of earth in a rather prominent pace. It will kick off at 6.30 a.m. (obscenely early I know) for maximum wow factor. If you want to be involved then get in touch.

The second event that day is a community bulb planting from 2.30 p.m. in Cuthill Park, Prestongrange Road, Prestonpans.

It is a large public space which has enjoyed some regeneration recently but would benefit from a horticultural hug.

These events are being organised by East Lothian Book Club for Fabulous Women as part of The Big Bulb Plant. It would be FABULOUS if you could join us.

Please check www.meetup.com/fabbook for any change of plans - events won't go ahead in adverse weather conditions.