Community Garden & Interpretation Trail, Thistle Foundation, Edinburgh
- The Thistle Foundation was set up in 1944 and the Thistle Estate establish to provide homes for disabled ex-servicemen to enable them “to live in homes of their own, surrounded by their own families, by their own friends, and by their own belongings.“ Today the foundation supports disabled people to live as independently as possible and support people with long term conditions.
Recently a new Centre of Wellbeing, designed by 3DReid, as been build and designs for a new Garden Suite is underway. As part of these developments UrbanPioneers have been asked to review the overall landscape strategy to enhance open spaces and its elements to offer the varying needs for the residents as well as visitors.
Based on the overall strategy we developed designs to turn the existing underused bowling green it into a community garden with orchard trees and meadow planting, considering the different abilities of its users to use this space. The first phase of the planting has been implemented with hard surfacing and seating to follow at a later stage.
An interpretation trail leads through the housing development, including the new community garden, featuring display boards and bronze markers.
Both elements, the trail and garden, have been developed in close co-operation with long-term residents, with the bronze markers being designed and produced by a long-term resident.
- Category
- Community & Placemaking, Gardens, History & Heritage, Housing & Residential, Older People & Dementia
- Client
- Thistle Foundation
- Status
- Completed April '19