Stirling Good Food Fortnight

‘From farm fields to kitchen tables, Stirling has a rich food heritage and culture. This March is Stirling Good Food Fortnight - Two weeks of events, experiences and conversations that celebrate where food comes from, the people that make it possible and exploring what food means to us.’

Taking place 1-14th March across the Stirling Council area.

As part of the celebration, the Library welcomed our friends from Braehead Community Garden and the Stirling Library of Things, who hosted stalls offering free food packs, seeds, and helpful information. A beautiful display of recipe books and food stories from the ‘BIG TASTY’ collection was also available for visitors to browse and borrow. We were delighted that several members of the Friends group were able to join in and share in the festivities.

Good Food Festival display on show at the Library by a local Tuesday craft group.

Stirling Library of Things

The lovely Ann Marie from Transition Stirling and Good Green Futures joined the Friends of the Mayfield meeting this evening to introduce the group to an initiative designed to make borrowing easier, cheaper, and more sustainable.

She shared information about the Stirling Library of Things, a scheme that enables you to borrow useful items they might only need occasionally such as DIY tools, gardening equipment, household gadgets, event supplies, and more. Instead of purchasing items that may sit unused for most of the year, people can borrow them at a low cost, helping reduce waste and encouraging a culture of sharing within the community. Annual membership is available for £9.95 and provides access to a growing collection of items.

Our members were enthusiastic to hear about the project and its potential to support people manage household costs or reduce their environmental impact. Ann Marie also highlighted the fantastic work happening at the Stirling Reuse Hub, where thousands of items are being diverted from landfill and given a second life in new homes. We were keen to learn about upcoming workshops and services such as Reboot which provides Stirling’s businesses, organisations and residents with a safe and secure laptop disposal.

A big thank you to Ann Marie for giving up your time to talk to us.

For more information you can visit slot.lend-engine.com/home-1 or visit in person The Stirling Reuse Hub : 4 Borrowmeadow Rd, Stirling FK7 7UW

Autumn Folklore and Herbal Health Workshop

In October, the library hosted herbalist, storyteller and author of The Time Traveller's Herbal: Amanda Edmiston for a special Autumn Folklore and Herbal Health workshop. Some of the group joined a packed out audience who came along to discover some of the benefits and stories behind the plants we use for health.

Amanda shared stories and focused on everyday household ingredients and free to forage, health-boosting potions and remedies to help us navigate the changing seasons.

You can borrow Amanda’s book at the library or purchase it online. For more information you can visit: www.botanicafabula.co.uk

A special thanks to Amanda for a wonderful talk. We hope to have you back again.

Mosaic Workshop for Stirling Pride

This collaborative artwork was created during a workshop led by Creative Stirling and artist Lou Carberry in partnership with St Ninians Library to celebrate Stirling Pride 2025. The mosaics were crafted by workshop participants and members of the Friends of the Mayfield community group, built on wooden bases kindly made by Forth Valley Men’s Shed and enriched with found objects donated by library customers. Archaeologist Dr Murray Cook also contributed fascinating artefacts from local excavations, including a fragment of the historic Stirling City Wall. Alongside the making, Lou Carberry shared an engaging talk on the history of the LGBTQ+ movement in Scotland, inspiring reflection and pride within the creative process.

The artwork will be on display at the Youth Space, upstairs in Made in Stirling as part of the Pride celebrations and later re homed in the Mayfield Community Centre.

Wanted! Bits and Bobs

To celebrate Stirling Pride this September, Stirling Libraries and Creative Stirling will be running a mosaic workshop on Saturday 13th September in St Ninians Library between 10-11.30. Artist Lou Carberry will talking through the history of LGBTQ+ people in Scotland since legislation and then working with participants to make a mosaic for The Mayfield Secret Garden. We are asking for found objects from the community to be included in the mosaic which can be donated at the library ahead of the workshop.

Veg Ledges for the Secret Garden

Members of Friends of the Mayfield group went along to the RHS and TCV event held at the Green Space this Thursday. We learned about how we can use small spaces such as these beautiful hand-crafted veg boxes made by the FV Men’s Shed, to grow flowers and vegetables.

The wood for the boxes had been treated so was carefully lines using a liner so as not to contaminate the veg. Boxes were filled with peat-free compost, using our fingers to separate clumps and bumped against the table to knock out air pockets.

Using our knuckles to make gentle indentations for the seeds and gently pinching the soil together afterwards. Each box has three different types of veg.

We then had some fun decorating them.

Gifts from the RHS.

A big thank you to Mo from RHS, Krissy from TCV and the FV Men’s Shed. We can’t wait for our first harvest.

Veg Ledges with TCV and RHS Thursday 5th June

Braehead Community Garden Plant Sale

This morning the library hosted another plant sale from our friends down at Braehead Community Gardens.

Friends of the Mayfield purchased some pollinators with money donated by customers who came along to the Kate McLelland Art Workshop which will be planted out tonight during the monthly meet-up.

Kate McLelland Illustrator Workshop

As part of Stirling Libraries Off the Page festival, the library hosted an art workshop with the wonderful Author and Illustrator Kate McLelland. The sold-out workshop was aimed at children aged 6-9 with ticket sales going to the Mayfield Secret Garden. The theme of the event was Scottish Wildlife and the children contributed to a collaborative mural. Participants took home some of Kate’s artwork as well as their new drawings and a Friends of the Mayfield pin badge.

Sunflowers with The Conservation Volunteers

During the Easter holidays, we were lucky enough to be joined by Krissy from The Conservation Volunteers who held a family indoor planting session. We got some top tips for planting Sunflowers, Nasturtiums and Poppies. The children planted some to take home and some for the Mayfield Secret Garden.

Leftover compost and seeds from the event were used by a class visit from St Ninians Primary. The class decorated the pots and took them away to look after them for their school fete plant stall.