Our main volunteering session are on Monday and Friday:
- All year
- 11:00—15:00
We also welcome volunteers during our Saturday and Sunday visiting hours:
- March—October
- 14:00—16:00
- (November—February
- 13:00—15:00)
What we get up to
No gardening experience is necessary! The Walled Garden is a place to learn and grow together. You can come as an experienced gardener or someone simply looking to dig in. If the plants don’t interest you then there’s plenty of DIY-type tasks around the garden that might. There are also possibilities of other kinds of involvement such as joining the rota for opening on weekends.
If you’re not yet tempted enough, know that each Monday a hot lunch (read: soup) will be provided! We usually take a break to eat lunch together but make a special point of it on Mondays at around 1pm.
First visit
You are welcome to come along for an introductory visit to see what is happening in the Walled Garden. For introductory visits, it’s better to come along on a Monday or Friday at 11 am (sharp!) so our head gardener can give you a tour of the site and go over health & safety and tool maintenance. However, if you can only do weekends then a Saturday is best at 2 pm.
Please email us at grantongarden@gmail.com to let us know when you intend to arrive so we can make sure that there is someone at the gate to welcome you.
We are opposite the Social Bite Village at 23 W Shore Rd, Edinburgh EH5 1QB. You’ll find our entrance hiding just off the cycle path (Speirs Bruce Way) running between the old Scottish Gas HQ and West Shore Road. Please knock loudly if you find the gate shut.
What you’ll need
Any tools you might need will be provided. Please do bring:
- Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
- Sturdy footwear
- Gardening gloves (if possible, we do have some spare)
- Water and snacks
Accessibility
There is a composting toilet on site, although it is not wheelchair accessible. We have no indoor heated spaces, electricity, or mains water supply. Footpaths are uneven and occasionally narrow.