Category: News

Executive Summary

Greener ColGlen has met most of its objectives and has engaged more people than ever before in Glendaruel and Colintraive. 2 community growing sites have been delivered, complete with composting facilities, outdoor growing areas, tools and storage and these have provided vital new focus for community activity.

We have started to increase road safety by clearing Rhododendron from sight lines, improved community spaces by landscaping and drainage, and improved bio-diversity by removing invasive species.

6 people have been directly employed by the project, 18 people have received training, qualifications or learned one or more new skills, enabling some to benefit from paid employment in a new area. 40 people have formed and joined a new community group – The Colglen Growers. Over 30 people have given voluntary time to the project, and we have re-used and recycled local materials and employed local contractors whose knowledge, experience and flexibility greatly benefitted the project. We have created new social networks, made friends and links with other community groups, and formed partnerships with other organisations.

Over 200 people have attended our informative and educational events or taken part in the project in some way.

We have grown over 189Kg of vegetables, composted over 100 Kg of food waste, dealt with over 1.2 tonnes of garden waste, and through the production of 25 tonnes of wood fuel, we have eradicated over 1 hectare of Rhododendron ponticum using low carbon methods, whilst also investigating biomass district heating and the Green Deal.

Over the course of the project we have saved 161 tonnes CO₂e, and over the lifetimes of the different elements we could save a further 181 tonnes CO₂e.

Project Development Officer “We’ve definitely had a lot of fun over the last 17 months, and this has been mostly due to the amazing community spirit and the cooperation and support of the ColGlen Community; the farms, friends, neighbours, contractors, suppliers, land owners, village halls, ColGlen Shinty Club, Community Council, Argyll and Bute Council, volunteers, ColGlen Growers and Project Staff. Thank you All”

Local Councillor Bruce Marshall stated, “Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust are leading the way in Cowal in setting an example of what can be done in a comparatively small rural community.”     

From a Volunteer – “I believe the community is better prepared for the future in that we have received high quality training in relevant areas, job opportunities have been created and that you have opened people’s eyes to new possibilities. Oh yes, and I’ve developed a passion I didn’t even know I had – it’s just great eating what you’ve grown!”

Read the full report here CCF2765FinalReportGreenerColGlen

For the sciency bit CCF2765 Appendix A CO2 calcs

Photos CCF2765 Appendix B Photographs

And to all involved a very big thank you!

The Electoral Reform Service; who conducted the community ballot on behalf of the Trust, reported on Monday that when the ballot closed at noon, 87.2% of the valid vote said yes to “Do you support the development of a community hydro-electric scheme in Glendaruel Forest?”

This mandate allows the Trust to move to the next stage of the project and over the next few months we will be working towards reaching agreement with the Forestry Commission and building a robust business plan.

Margaret Shields

9th January 2015

 

All registered voters in the Community have been sent a leaflet in the post this week giving information about a possible community hydro-electric scheme in the Glendaruel Forest. This project is in partnership with the Forestry Commission Scotland (FSC).

 A public ballot is to be held and ballot papers will be despatched on Monday the 8th December and the vote will close on Monday 5th of January.  Please exercise your right to vote and return your ballot paper in good time for it to count!

To find out more about the project please open the link below:

Hydro leaflet 2014

Margaret Shields

3rd December 2014

 

Community consultation sometime ago highlighted the wish for a circular walk around the village, taking in the shore. To provide this attraction a bridge needs to be built across the burn. Because of the span required the most practical solution is to build a metal bridge. Estimates were sought and the total project cost is over £25,000. Paths for All were also consulted and because of the shore it is not possible to make the walk accessible to all. As a consequence we have not yet been able to find a funding stream that will allow the project to go ahead. It was agreed at the Trustees meeting in October that the project should not be shelved but should be suspended until we are able to find a way of providing the funds. We will keep revisiting the project and hope to find a solution in the future.

18th November 2014

 

 

Greener ColGlen’s Woodfuel Project Presents

Rhododendron Ponticum

“From Invader to Woodfuel”

Thurs 23^rd OCT 2014

Colintraive Village Hall

10:00 Coffee and registration/ networking

10:30 Intro and presentations

• Councillor Bruce Marshall – Chair
• Sara Maclean – Greener ColGlen
• Bob Black – Native Woods Cooperative
• Donald Kennedy – The Lever-and-Mulch Partnership
• Julie Young – Argyll & the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust
• Gordon Stevenson – Wood Watch Heritage – Charcoal-making

12:30 Soup & Sandwich Lunch

Demos from 13:30 – Charcoal-making at Milton Burn and Cut-and-chip, Stem Injection and Lever-and-Mulch at Southhall Farm (with 2 days follow-up L&M training for Community Volunteers)

Join us for a day of sharing information on Rhododendron Ponticum, and see effective methods of control that also produce wood fuel.

Places are limited for this FREE event, so please contact Sara for more information, or to book your place, please download, complete and send in the BOOKING FORM.

01700 841 358

sara@cgdt.org

 

The ColGlen Growers  INVITE YOU TO

 CELEBRATE

THE OPENING OF GLENDARUEL POLYTUNNEL

11am to 4pm on SATURDAY 16^th AUGUST

Please contact us on 01700 841358 or info@cgdt.org

to book your FREE workshops

11am to 12.30pm

1. Composting and Vermiculture Workshop

Learn the arts of hot-box and worm composting

2. Propagating Herbs Workshop

Help create a herb bed for the polytunnel and learn about propagating herbs.

Please bring your favourite herb cuttings to add to the mix.

3. Permaculture Workshop – Part 1

Permaculture’s main aim is to help people live in a truly sustainable way.

 Learn about the principles of good design for your garden in this all-day workshop.

 12.30pm

Opening Ceremony and Barbecue lunch with refreshments

1.15 to 4pm

4. Composting and Vermiculture Workshop

Another chance to attend this morning’s event.

5. Wild Herb Walk

and possibly more propagating

3. Permaculture Workshop – Part 2

Complete your day’s introduction to Permaculture

ALL WELCOME!

3 posts …..

Exciting opportunities to work on this Climate Challenge Funded project.   Suit either self-employed or PAYE candidates for immediate start.

 To support the development and delivery of the activities and outcomes of the Project….

• PROJECT SUPPORT OFFICER – Part-time, 16 hours p/w – £756 pcm (gross salary), until 31^st March 2015.  Download Job Description here…Greener ColGlen Support Officer 

 

And to help set up the Community Growing and Composting at the Polytunnels….

• SITE DEVELOPMENT WORKER – 35 hours p/w – £10hr, for 6 weeks.  Download Job description here… Site Development Worker
• SITE ASSISTANT (ideal student summer holiday job) 30 hours p/w – £6.50hr, for 4 weeks.  Download Job Description here… Site Assistant

Alternatively, for job descriptions please email info@cgdt.org or phone 01700 841 358 during office hours.

Then please send your up-to-date CV and covering letter to Greener ColGlen JOBS @ CGDT, The Village Hall, Colintraive PA22 3AS.  Or by email to info@cgdt.org

 

Applications close Friday, 4^th July 2014 at 5pm.