| Our Team |

GROWING VOLUNTEERS!

Meet the volunteers that help Winchburgh Grow

Winchburgh Community Growing Group has achieved many landmark milestones which can all be found on this website - Without the support of residents who volunteer time it would not be possible to continue - Growing food is just the beginning...

Over 25k hours volunteered through 2018 to date

Meet the Constituted Committee...

List of services

Vivian Maeda
Meet Vivian - Co-founder and Chair of Winchburgh Community Growing Group...

A mover and shaker in food education, Vivian has worked with children all over Scotland from nurseries, primary and secondary schools. In her free time, she enjoys being an amateur forager and appreciates edibles from her local surroundings. She loves cooking and sharing her passion for it with children. With a background on project and event management, and a vast experience in food education, she is a holder of a master’s degree in Gastronomy with a special interest in nutrition.

"I'm proud to have co-founded the Winchburgh Community Growing Group with John West. We share a passion for good food by growing edibles in the village for everyone -
I believe that food is more than fuel for the body. Food can bring people together, promote local heritage and sustainability."
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John West
Meet John - Co-founder, Vice Chair and Treasurer of Winchburgh Community Growing Group...

John's passion for growing and volunteering throughout life has brought a 'born to do this attitude' to the project. Working smart and very hard to develop and deliver some keys projects, with a keen interest on making things happen for the great of the community. Every success drives the need for the next new achievemnt and bigger projects. In 2019 John completed a Diploma in Garden Landscaping and Design which has lead to developeing some garden design projects in Winchburgh.

I.T achievemnts from database, web, app development, marketing, PR and wood design services another milestone.

"I'm proud to have worked with Vivian to get this project off the ground and meeting devoted volunteers who are so commited to helping our community grow!"

I am so passionate about Winchburgh from seeing the Nursery being involved in planting bulbs to the Winchburgh Wombles making such a difference.

The futures bright with such a great growing team and community spirit.

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Meet some more of the devoted community volunteers below and click images to read their story...

Sarah

"I became involved in the community planters almost from the start. I felt it was such a wonderful worthwhile project which I could envisage would develop and bring people together. My granddaughter Eliza was very excited with the planters and always wants to help. It’s very rewarding seeing things flourish in the planters and know that everyone can help themselve. When I’m out walking the dogs I take a large bottle of water to make sure none of the planters are thirsty! It gives me great pleasure to see everything we've planted flourishing!"
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Robbie

"A pleasure to have fresh produce on our door steps. I created Robbies Rancheros which proudly featured in Konnect Magazine in August this year and can be found on the 'Menu Maker' page of the WCGG website - More to come!"

- Captain of the round planters!
Robbie has been instrumental in the creataion of the stunnning feature within Church Hill Brae; devoting hours of work painting, maintaining, planting and investing in this project.
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Julie

"The planters are a brilliant idea and we use the herbs for soup and to garnish regularly and they add aesthetically to the outdoor area"

Juile has been busy watering the planters during hot spells - even in September!
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Marjorie

"I thought the growing group an excellent idea but sadly due to arthritis could not volunteer in the planting so decided to help in some other way so as I had spent my formative years in the Lanarkshire Education system learning the importance of neat handwriting, when the request for someone to write out the signs I took it on board. By doing that I have also learnt a fair bit about how various herbs and plants look, from the research required for some of the illustrated bits! As they say, from little acorns mighty oaks grow!"
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Monica

One of the three musketeers!

"I'm always happy to 'dig in' for a good cause and keep the adopted planters looking great all year round - The growing group always has great ideas and it's great to see all of the planters around the village growing so well"
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Moira

Keeping the planters watered at Niddry Castle Golf Club.
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Graeme

Guardian of the planters!

"I have been involved since the first planting day and it's great to see the planters grow well over the seasons from strawberries to herbs it's all growing on"
Graeme has an extra long hose to reach adopted planters and has been there from the beginning when he helped plant the first produce.
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Charlotte

As part of the Ladies Section keeping the planters growing great!
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Blair

Blair's parents said "Blair is always keen to get involved in community growing and has helped at the school grow - he is keen to learn lots about planting and growing fresh healthy food!"
- Blair has helped dad Calvin tend to many of the tasks that go un-noticed...everyone agrees Blair deserves a WCGG T-Shirt for all his hard work! - It's great to see the next generation of growers working so hard to see Winchburgh Communuty Growing Group grow for many years!
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Gillian

"I recently join the growing group as a keen grower and love the ambitions. I hate to see waste and always try to encourage people to pick. I'm excited to be part of the Auldcathie growing area and working on the committee to help brings great ideas forward for the community"

"I look after the two planters on Niddry road which have just been planted with edible lavender."
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Damo

Revathi, Damo's mum said "It's been over a year now since we've had these amazing planters around the village. My boys loved to take care of the nearby planters during summer. We enjoyed tasty..fresh and healthy vegetables from these planters.
We had great fun and exciting times during our last year's Halloween & Easter egg hunt. Damo did help me in packing the goodie bag and was so excited to do that."

"Children learnt so much from these planters. Damo never forgets to pay a visit to our nearby planter."
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Mhairi

Always keen to dig in and keep the planters looking tip top!
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Jacqui

"It was great to meet some of the other volunteers at the Autumn plant out - A lovely positive bunch of people, who are nice to spend time with"

Jacqui and neighbours have since adopted the 8 Bellway planters for looking after and watering come summer 2020.
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