Iain Smith: Bill Corbett - Abundant Borders - Hawick Community Garden

The speaker at the recent Rotary Club meeting was Bill Corbett who, having worked most of his days as a horticulturist with Newcastle City Council, has returned to his roots in Hawick and is now a volunteer coordinator for Abundant Borders which works to create a network of community food gardens across the Scottish Borders. They take neglected, under-used or unused land and, working with community food growers, create a garden full of edibles: fruit trees, vegetables, salads and herbs while acting as a training base for people to learn not only how to grow their own food in a sustainable way but also to turn that food into healthy, inexpensive meals. Their aim is that everyone, regardless of personal circumstances, should have access to healthy nutritious food. The food that is grown is shared among the participants with any surplus supporting local food initiatives.

Abundant Borders has a community garden at the rear of the Salvation Army shop on the High Street in Hawick, one of many gardens throughout the Borders including Eyemouth, Ayton and Duns. This venture is supported by many organisations such the Salvation Army.

Bill’s talk was well received and many questions followed with the vote of thanks being given by President Scott Elliot.