the story so far…

The Mayfield Secret Garden is located in the central courtyard of Mayfield Community Centre, St Ninians, Stirling. For some time, the space has been overgrown and unused. The library staff had a goal to turn the area into a garden that can be enjoyed by the library and community centre users. 

In the summer of 2024, staff applied for CILIPS (Scotland’s Library and Information Professionals) Green Libraries Award. The project was one of five to be awarded a £2500 grant. Using Mayfield Secret Garden as a base, we aim for the library to offer accessible workshops and educational programmes that blend the use of traditional library resources (books, e-books and e-magazines) with practical, outdoor learning experiences on themes like biodiversity and upcycling.

The Community Justice Team were one of the first groups contacted to be involved with the project. As well as making helpful suggestions to the layout, the team cut back unruly bramble bushes and laid a whin dust path to make the ground more accessible.  

Following from this, an open evening hosted in the library gathered local organisations that promote gardening and wildlife together such as TCV, Braehead Community Gardens, The Butterfly Conservation, Treelink, Woodcraft Folk and Bannockburn House. We were joined by customers and representatives from the Council. The purpose of the evening was to express the intent of the Mayfield Secret Garden. We wanted to invite the local community to get involved by sharing ideas, learn about volunteer opportunities within their area and help us to form a community group. 

Within a fortnight, Friends of the Mayfield was formed. The purpose of the group is to help design and maintain the Mayfield Secret Garden as well as support other projects that will benefit the community centre, library and surrounding area. The group is made up of community-minded people who want to make a positive impact.

Another fortunate outcome from the open evening was an introduction to local company, Quickblock which led to a very generous donation of modular blocks, allowing us to build raised beds and a bench. The blocks are made from 100% recycled material and should last for up to 30 years. This donation freed up some of the budget to focus on making the garden more accessible.

We employed local company Gilchrists to remove the stumps of the bramble bushes, level out the ground and make a slabbed pathway and patio.

Throughout the year, we have worked with the organisations that supported us at the open evening and met a few more that have provided workshops, talks and information sessions. We have worked with groups that meet in the library and community centre and have partnered with our local schools for indoor and outdoor planting sessions. Upcoming events for the garden we have planned include Author and Illustrator creative workshops, a collaborative herb growing project and a mural.