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About

Bonnymuir Green Community Trust is a thriving community owned green space.

We have a productive, managed community garden, a social hub and cafe, which is led, developed and sustained by local volunteers.

We encourage all members of the public to meet and share in a space that is accessible, providing the community with a mix of educational and social activities, encouraging fun, good health, wellbeing and sustainable living. 

Our Aim

Is that Bonnymuir Green Community Trust develops and uses the site of the former Bonnymuir Green Bowling Club as an asset, owned by and operated for the benefit of the community.

Carrie, Liz & Jen

Our Vision

Is to create an urban sustainability hub.

All residents in our community and beyond will be encouraged to use it as a social hub where the emphasis is on promoting greener, carbon reducing lifestyle.

Our Vision

History

Originally the walled garden of one of the oldest houses in Midstocket, the Green was given to the community in 1924 for a nominal cost to start a Bowling Club. In 2015, the Bowling Club closed and the Green was left derelict.

The Green's journey continued when a group of locals came together to look at developing it within the spirit of the original gift of land for community use. The objective was to retain this historical green space as a community resource and not see it exploited for commercial gain.

Public meetings, canvassing and surveys ensued and the newly formed Bonnymuir Green Community Trust began the process of a Community Right to Buy. Once the application was approved by Scottish Government Ministers, there followed a huge fundraising effort and the land was purchased in September 2018.

Now, the Green is a community garden with an orchard, wildlife pond, wildflower area, flower beds, play area, soft fruit area, raised beds accessible to people with disabilities and the Bonny Café. The Green is open to the public all week - Monday to Sunday to relax or get involved in the garden. The Trust also hosts regular social events, art exhibitions, gardening, workshops and wellbeing classes. A beautiful, calm, educational, inclusive and fun place built by volunteers for the whole community.

History
2019 

  • Recruited a Project Coordinator.
  • Opened up Bonnymuir Green to the community and had an unprecedented 4,450 visitors during the year.
  • Established 24 vegetable beds and developed the garden, establishing a growing programme.
  • Increased membership to over 250 members.
  • Secured funding to continue our activities into 2020.
  • Opened Bonny Café on Saturdays.
  • Introduced a new ‘Pick Your Own Veg’ initiative.
  • Held a wide variety of events and classes, including gardening events, children’s art workshops, yoga sessions, art exhibitions, sports events, quiz nights, and private parties.
  • Undertook a survey of members to drive our plan for 2020.

2020 

  • Recruitment of two part-time Centre Coordinators.
  • Extended opening hours to 6 days a week - Monday to Saturday.
  • Despite C-19 restrictions visitor numbers reached over 6,300 in 2020.
  • Held garden workshops including apple tree grafting and composting.
  • Raised Bed Project improved our 24 vegetable beds making them more accessible.
  • Bonny Café started opening on Fridays as well as Saturdays.
  • 20msq wildflower meadow planted with bee and butterfly friendly plants; adding to the biodiversity.
  • Continued our successful and pioneering 'Pick Your Own Veg' policy where pickers leave a donation for produce.
  • Partnership with the Allotment Market Stall (TAMS) established with a new stall of local produce.
  • Cut Flower Bed planted following requests from visitors to cut and take home flowers.
  • Hugely popular Summer and Autumn Nights, Festive Market and Afternoon Tea events held with over 750 attendees.
  • Undertook our 2020 member survey to shape our plans for 2021.

2021 

  • More than 19,500 visitors over the year.
  • Recruited a Café Coordinator and new Project Coordinator.
  • Café began opening on Sundays.
  • Secured funding for roofing projects including PV panels and a sedum green roof.
  • Apiary site constructed and beehives installed.
  • Regular art exhibitions in café space.
  • Held our 3 Year Celebration, including exhibition and BBQ.
  • Successful events – craft fairs, potato giveaway day, outdoor dining, plant sale
  • Popular workshops – kombucha, flower arranging.
  • Free Christmas Community Event with brass band and Christmas lights.

2022

  • More than 21,000 visitors over the year and an incredible 6,000 hours of volunteer support!
  • Replaced the office roof with environmentally friendly EPDM and sedum.
  • Replaced the workshop roof and installed PV panels to produce our own energy.
  • Created a new bug hotel.
  • Introduced a minibeast trail around the garden for younger visitors.
  • Held our first Honeybee Information Day all about beekeeping.
  • Held evening dining events, summer and Christmas markets and themed menus in café e.g. Burns’ weekend.
  • Ran workshops throughout the year; Kombucha, floral wreath making, minibeast identification, drop in clothes repair sessions.
  • Art exhibitions throughout the year, including our first Open Art exhibition featuring work from amateur artists in our community.
  • Continue to consult the community with our annual survey.

What's On

Click on link below for Monthly Schedule

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Bonny Café

Bonny Café was established in April 2019, providing a Saturday lunch service run by volunteers. Since then, it has developed into an extremely popular takeaway and sit-in service, with home baking, soups and bacon rolls available.

Due to high demand, Bonny Café now runs a full service Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a drinks and cakes service Monday to Wednesday.

Cafe

Events (Past, present and future)

Educational Videos

How to grow blah blah blah...

How to grow blah blah blah...

Opening Times

Bonnymuir Green: Monday to Sunday 9:30am - 5pm (winter hours)

Bonny Café: Thursday to Saturday 10am - 2pm (full menu)

Bonny Beverages: Monday to Wednesday 10am - 2pm (limited menu)

Bonnymuir Green is a distributor of Green food waste bin liners, and on-street Parking Vouchers. For more information speak to one of our team.

Opening Times
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Mobirise
Get in Touch

All enquiries

info@bgct.co.uk

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Bonnymuir Green Community Trust, The Old Bowling Green, Off Bonnymuir Place, Aberdeen, AB15 5NQ, UK | Charity Number: SC048260 | Company Number: 575753

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