West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Willowacre Trust have received a £1,000 donation from housebuilder Mactaggart and Mickel to fund the Molly Weir Garden Project in Springburn.

The Molly Weir is a community garden set up and run by local volunteers which provides green space for locals who don’t have their own. The donation will be used to buy a new garden shed, raised beds for planting vegetables and a selection of wildflowers to encourage wildlife such as bees and butterflies.

The donation comes from Mactaggart & Mickel’s Building Communities Fund which is open throughout the year to applications from charities, community groups, sports teams and schools within a five mile radius of any live Mactaggart & Mickel Homes development.

Maisie O’Brien, community and support services manager at WSHA, said: “Willowacre Trust is grateful to Mactaggart & Mickel Homes for awarding this funding to the Molly Weir gardening project. West of Scotland Housing Association and its subsidiary organisation Willowacre Trust are committed to the creation of projects and services which offer additional support to our tenants and impacts on their lives.

“This funding will enable the community to create a positive community green space and host events, encouraging local families and residents who do not have access to green space to participate and learn how to grow their own vegetables.”

Scott McLaren, chairperson of the Molly Weir Garden Group, said: “We have exciting plans for this donation; we are going to plant an ‘edible hedge’ made up of 24 plants which bear fruit and vegetables. We’ve also bought two tonnes of soil to support our produce such as shallots, beetroots, parsnip and wild garlic. We plan to distribute a lot of the fruit and vegetables to the residents of Gourlay Street sheltered housing complex.

“As much as I enjoy the garden during the day, I also love visiting it in the evening when it is lit up with solar lights. It looks beautiful and it’s a wonderful community hub.”

Paul McAninch from Mactaggart & Mickel added: “The Molly Weir project does fantastic work in Springburn and we are pleased to be able to lend our support. This thriving community garden not only allows local residents access to green space but ensures they don’t have to miss out on all the pleasure gardening can provide.”