ON A frosty Monday morning, Richard Martin is braving the cold to help build a fence around Springburn Food Hub’s allotment plot.

“I am the handyman and gatekeeper,” says the retired security guard, showing off his new badge which has this exact title emblazoned upon it.

“I do all the odd jobs. I love coming here.”

(Image: Newsquest)

Richard’s wife, Isabella, sadly died four years ago.

“Since then, I have found it hard to be at home,” he says, simply. “Coming here keeps me busy. Today I’m building a fence. It’s good to help out.”

Richard has been coming to the hub’s therapeutic gardening session, a safe and healing space for anyone looking for a little support and relief through physical activity and fresh air, for three years. It’s one of many initiatives run by the project, which is part of North Glasgow Community Food Initiative, a pioneering charity which also runs food hubs in Milton and Ruchill.

A group of around eight volunteers regularly plant, harvest and tend to the plots, but hundreds more people from the surrounding streets use the space.

(Image: Springburn Food Hub)

Recent events have included a herb-growing workshop, a beekeeping lesson, health sessions for asylum-seeking women, and planting days with children from local schools and nurseries, at which there is much excitement around the arrival of a hedgehog. (He has been named Spike by the little gardeners, the Teeny Greenies, and their parents.)

“He’s very happy, they are all keeping an eye on them,” says community gardener Marie McInnes, smiling, who is there to provide support and guidance for the volunteers.

Towering above the allotments are the high flats and terraces along Springburn Road.

“So many people live right here, and we just want as many of them to be able to access this,” says Sineadin Ramage, Springburn Food Hub manager.

“Everything in the Springburn Food Hub is led by the community. It’s up to them what we do – it’s their place.

“And if someone wants to use it, we will do our best to find a space for them.”

Springburn Food Hub is about much more than growing and gardening – the group’s dedication to involving as many people as possible, and to education and support, is helping build community connections and tackle wider problems such as food waste, food poverty and sustainability.

The project runs free community meals once a week in different locations across the area, as well as cookery classes and low-cost fruit and vegetable barras, which help people access affordable food and live healthier lives.

It is also facing challenges created by the changing climate, explain Marie and Sineadin, who say the impact of milder, wetter weather is “clear to see” in the growing plots.

“Last year, our plot was under water for three months,” explains Sineadin. “Our raised beds rotted, so we are having to repair them.”

Community gardener Marie McInnes, adds: “Growing patterns have changed, and it is affecting the birds and insects.

“Things are sprouting early, because it has been so warm, then being killed off by the frost.”

She shakes her head. “It is very worrying,” she explains. “Tomatoes and courgettes are flourishing, which is very unusual for this time of year. Climate change is 100 percent here in Springburn. The weather is bananas.”

Today, the allotments are covered in a thick white frost. In the smaller of the hub’s two plots, a log fire is burning – later, explains Sineadin, the volunteers will enjoy some soup made from allotment produce.

Springburn Food Hub has been named Health and Wellbeing Champion in the North West heat of the Glasgow Community Champion Awards, after a public vote. They will now go forward to the grand final in December.

(Image: Newsquest)

“The fact that it was a public vote means we feel like we are already winners,” says Sineadin, smiling.

“It’s really wonderful that people took the time to vote for us, that means a lot. There are so many great groups working in this area and we all know how tough it is. The awards are a fantastic recognition of everyone, and it’s humbling to be part of it.”

Barbara Janowska is helping to clear out the raised beds as part of the morning gardening session.

“I enjoy coming here so much,” she explains. “I have been coming since the springtime and it is inspiring me to do more gardening at home.”

She adds: “At home, getting caught up in everything I have to do, it can be overwhelming and very stressful. Coming here really helps me to relax and escape.”