Small Green Spaces

Ethos

We are a new social enterprise in Edinburgh, set up by three friends with over twelve years experience of community gardening. We are dedicated to turning empty city spaces into Small Green Spaces, using locally and ethically sourced products to create long lasting mini-gardens. No space is too small!

Supporting local community projects is central to our business. Wherever possible the products (pots, plants, compost and decorations) we use are sourced from community groups. These projects do fantastic work with volunteers who have mental health problems and learning difficulties, young people excluded from school, people recovering from substance misuse, ex-offenders, and the long term unemployed, breaking down barriers, building self esteem and encouraging physical and mental well-being through therapeutic gardening, composting, art and woodworking.

By using the products produced by these community projects, we are supporting their work, helping them generate income and become less grant dependent. We are supporting local businesses, and helping you to reduce your carbon footprint by using locally sourced products, delivered to your door so you don’t have to drive to out of town garden centres.

History

Helen and Jenny met in 2005 when they both worked at Gorgie City Farm. In 2009, they both moved to New Town properties without gardens, and, despite being keen gardeners, they were initially stumped by how to garden without a garden. Our good friend Jackie also had a ‘problem space’ between the railings on her front steps, which she wanted to plant up. After a bit of thinking, we worked out a successful combination of containers and plants to suit our awkward spaces, and wondered if there were other people out there who faced the same problems, who’d rather shop locally than at large out of town garden centres. We worked on setting up the business through Summer 2010, launched our Winter range in October 2010, and our full range at our launch event on March 26th 2011.

Thank you very much to everyone who’s supported us so far!

Meet the team

Helen Pank – Helen has been a volunteer, member of staff, and now a board member on community gardens, in Edinburgh and London, for over 10 years. She also works for the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and has good connections with community projects all over Edinburgh. Helen loves gardening at home, and despite having no actual garden, is growing garlic, leeks, onions carrots and potatoes in whiskey barrels in the centre of the city.

Jackie Macdonald – Jackie is also a keen gardener, and knows all about the peculiarities of basement areas, having her own New Town property with a garden and a basement. Jackie’s background is in law and business.

Jenny Foulkes – Jenny has a degree in Landscape Management, and has worked in the horticulture industry for many years, in the UK and Australia.