Dandelion Living Lanes and Unexpected Gardens project in Forres promoted by Findhorn Bay Arts inspires town centre growing
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GARDENS have been unexpectedly grown in the centre of Forres as part of a national initiative promoted by Findhorn Bay Arts (FBA).
Back in February, residents of homes in alleyways off High Street were invited to take part in the Dandelion/Living Lanes/Unexpected Gardens project to encourage food growth and community collaboration.
Emerging Creative Producer at Unexpected Gardens, Eva Zandman, said: “It has been a pleasure to be part of the project. We hope the Unexpected Garden activities have inspired people to keep on growing, sowing and sharing in future.”
FBA spokesman, Alex Williamson, also confirmed: vertical gardens designed by artist Tom Watt and local upcycling company Funky Furbish were installed in Forres in Bloom’s Wee FIBbies garden and at Mather’s Café in Grant Park; a floating edible garden moored on the Mosset duck pond sponsored by Biomatrix Water Solutions highlights alternative approaches to land-based growing; and a greenhouse installed at Orchard Road Studios allows plant storage.
He said: “Participants have been growing edible plants including chard, kale, beans, potatoes, spinach and herbs like lemon thyme and parsley. Some lanes participants also grew mushrooms using kits supplied by Green Grow Mushrooms.”
Over the summer, Forres hosted a programme of events, culminating in a pop-up market outside Forres Tolbooth, then a Cultivating Connections networking event and Unexpected Ceilidh at Forres Town Hall. These included Strawberry Sundays at Transition Town Forres – free craft workshops for families focused on growing run by local artists Marion Normand and Oonagh Brady. Also, Pop Up Pots outside FBA’s shop at 86 High Street where passers-by were invited to pick up a plant or pot a seed to grow at home.
Alex said: “The Strawberry Sundays events were hosted by the Unexpected Gardens Cultivating Connections network in collaboration with groups such as Forres in Bloom, Forres Friends of Woods and Fields, Incredible Edible and Forres Orchard who have had regular meeting. The various groups also hosted Strawberry Sundays.”
He added: “Our musicians-in-residence, Dopey Monkey, visited all of the growing spaces and created an album celebrating the Unexpected Gardens. We also held meet-ups at Orchard Road Studios for our Living Lanes residents, with free food, live music, and storytelling by Margot Henderson.”
