THE Greyfriars Biophilic Community Garden, on Glasgow’s historic High Street, has been officially opened.

The garden features a strikingly vibrant collection of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables in 56 raised beds and surrounding areas. Three of the raised beds are accessible, with a chair or wheelchair able to fit beneath.

The garden was created through a partnership between Glasgow City Council and local community groups from the Merchant City, High Street, Drygate and Trongate.

The new growing space, located between the St Mungo mural and the Barony Hall, has transformed an underutilized open area into a community asset, managed by a committee of local people, offering food growing opportunities to residents aged from the 20s to their 80s.

It replaces and expands on the former Greyfriars Garden, which was set up in 2012 as part of the council’s Stalled Spaces and which was always intended to be temporary as the Shuttle Street site was earmarked for development.

Biophilic relates to biophilia which is the desire or tendency to commune with nature.

Drone footage of the Greyfriars Biophilic Community Garden

Councillor Eva Bolander, chair of the High Street Reference Group, said: “The Greyfriars Biophilic Community Garden is a fantastic asset for the people of High Street and the surrounding areas.

“The partnership between local community groups and the council has delivered a space that brings health, social and economic benefits to a range of people in this part of the city, and we can all look forward to the garden continuing to bloom in the future.”

Councillor Angus Millar, convener for City Centre Recovery at Glasgow City Council, said: “The official opening of this fantastic community growing space is both a wonderful example of what can be achieved through our city’s Food Growing Strategy, and an important milestone in the revitalisation of the city centre’s historic High Street area.

“I am delighted the council has been able to support the development of the garden, which the gardeners have made their own and brought to life with such success.”

Veronica Low, chair of the Greyfriars Biophilic Community Garden, said: “We are delighted to see the official opening of this garden, where an underused green space has been turned into a site with an active growing community.

“We worked with the council to develop what has become many things — a sensory garden, and a space to relax, meet your friends and grow. We are also looking to collaborate with other gardens, such as the one at the Provand’s Lordship and the doctor’s garden at the Royal Infirmary, and we look forward to welcoming guests at Doors Open Day on 16 and 17 September.”

Anyone interested in applying for a raised bed at the garden should email greyfriarsgardenglasgow@gmail.com, and, for further information on Glasgow City Council’s Food Growing Strategy email: glasgowfoodgrowing@glasgow.go.uk.