Lending library in Dundee gives gardeners the tools to start growing

A library in Dundee is ‘tooling up’ to offer a new education – in gardening.

It’s hoped people in the Fintry area will use a new tool-lending service to start growing their own and reap the benefits of being outdoors.

Sets of digging and cultivating gear for children and adults can be borrowed for up to three weeks.

“We want to engage the local community, to bring them outdoors after we’ve been locked-in for so long,” said Louise McDermott from Fintry Community Library.

“Focusing on their health and mental wellbeing gets them involved and feeling part of something where they get to see the benefits.

“They can come out every day and watch the stuff growing, bring their kids and grandkids and say ‘this is our sunflower that we started’ and watch it grow.

“We have rakes and spades and forks and trowels, and for kids we’ve got these adorable little backpacks, even some kids’ wheelbarrows.”

The tools can be used in the community garden at Fintry Community Library and taken home.

There’s a particular focus on encouraging children to try their hand at gardening.

Louise added: “There’s not a lot in the local area for kids to be doing. We do run some kids’ clubs, but we’re very conscious that we want to get them outside into the fresh air and back to nature.

“Get them away from computers and screens, but also lending them books as well to say ‘look, this is how you use a non-fiction book, this is what you can learn, you don’t have to go to Google for everything, we do still have stuff in print’, it’s going to be great.”

The project has received funding from the Scottish Government’s Public Library Improvement Fund and, if it flourishes in Fintry, it could put down roots in other Dundee communities.