Community Greenspace in Hutchison
Edible Estates have been asked by Edinburgh Council to work with the residents of Hutchison, (an estate in the SW of Edinburgh), to identify ways in which greenspaces in the neighbourhood could be improved with the support of the community and the Council. The project started in January 2019 and will continue on into 2020.
During 2019, we ran a series of community consultations that highlighted the interests of the residents e.g. community growing, nature and relaxation, and identified locations which could be improved. The project has been delayed through 2020 by the Covid pandemic, but we are now looking to move forward with identifying a site for the proposed Neighbourhood Garden. See further information about the study below.
Upcoming Events & Activities:
No events scheduled at this time. Next step: Agreement with Council to proceed with project.
If you want to be kept informed about the study and upcoming events be sure to email greig@edibleestates.co.uk, or text 0781 729 2464.
Hutchison Neighbourhood Garden Site
Through the community and greenspace surveys we carried out in 2019, we identified a preferred site for the development of a Neighbourhood Garden for Hutchison. There are several potential sites in the estate, but this site is particularly well suited due to its size, location, solar aspect, and being over seen by a ring of tenements.
The potential site is an area of greenspace managed by the council within a ring of tenements between Hutchison Medway, and Hutchison Avenue. The site can be accessed by a path on Hutchison Medway.
The video below shows how the garden might look, though the actual design may vary if we go ahead and build the garden.
The Neighbourhood Garden would include a large community shed which would support the garden but also community greenspace projects across Hutchison, and provide a location for other community activities. There would be up to thirty five raised beds which could be managed individually by growers, or as a group. A community orchard would be planted around the perimeter of the garden. The fence around the site would be renovated with gates installed (if households want them) so that residents living around the site could access it directly.
In November 2020, we carried out a postal survey of the 63 households which live around the preferred community garden site. Due to the Covid restrictions, we asked households to return a SAE postcard to us indicating either: ‘I support the proposed community garden’; ‘I need to find out more’, ‘I don’t support the use of the space for a community garden’. We received 22 responses giving their support for the proposed project, we did not receive any negative responses, or requests for more information.
– Hutchison Garden Development Schedule Report (3.2Mb)
Edible Estates have developed similar neighbourhood gardens in similar sites at Magdalene and Lochend.
Community Greenspace Reports
We have prepared several reports to provide a basis for identifying potential community greenspace projects for Hutchison. We will update the reports as the study continues, and compile them into a final report later in 2020.
– Hutchison Community Survey Report 1.1
– Hutchison Greenspace Survey Report 1.1
– Hutchison Greenspace Interventions Report 1.1
Hutchison Circle Pocket Park
The animation below introduces a possible renovation of the circle at Hutchison Place to create a pocket park. The existing railings which bisect the park would be removed and new swing gates installed. A path and wildflower area could also be added along the perimeter of the space. The community may want to hold events there in the warmer months and a marquee could be erected.
Community Participative Design Exercise
On the 26th January 2019, Edible Estates were invited by Cllr Gavin Corbett to deliver a short community participative design exercise with residents of Hutchison. Twenty residents attended the event.
The exercise drew out valuable information of the priorities, concerns and dreams of local residents with regards to the management of local greenspace/public realm. It found that there is demand for residents to be involved in the management of greenspace, and interest in creating a Hutchison Community Greenspace Association as a forum for further discussion & development.
The participants were asked about Hutchison : “What You Like?”, “What You Don’t Like?” and “What Would You Like To Have?”. The summarised findings are shown below.
Top 5 Things We Like
1 – Tree Lined Streets
2 – Lots of Greenspaces
3 – Wildlife / Birds
4 – Sense of Community
5 – Fresh Air
Top 5 Things We Don’t Like
1 – Dog Fouling
2 – Litter
3 – Lack of benches / picnic tables
4 – Not enough biodiversity
5 – Seadecking / Tarmacing
Top Ten Ideas To Improve Hutchison Greenspace / Public Realm
1 – A Community Garden
2 – Opportunities to grow fruit and vegetables.
3 – Improvements to greenspace around Cycle Path
4 – Area set aside for dog walkers (with high fence and poo bins)
5 – Greater biodiversity / wildlife (specific locations highlighted)
6 – Community Days (litter picking)
7 – Fenced greenspace opened up
8 – Community Cafe / Shop
9 – Community composting facilities
10 – More seating / picnic tables for rest and relaxation
