Belgrave Community Garden Trustees’ Annual Report
2024-2025
belgravecommunitygarden@mail.com
Belgrave Community Garden
Scottish Charity Number: SC054118
Belgrave Lane
Glasgow
Charity Trustees
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Thomas Herbert
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Jean Hutton
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Charlotte Noble
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Toby Paterson
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Iain Scott
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Melissa Toner
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Objectives and activities
The green space off Belgrave Lane has always been green space enjoyed by the community and has never been developed. However, it has been under threat many times, including unauthorised removal of mature trees. The community came together to organise the first Community Garden group and at this point the Hillhead Community Council secured Planning permission to replant the trees and develop a protected community garden. However, the garden space was controversially sold off at auction and current ownership is again threatening its future.
The main objective of the Belgrave Community Garden Limited is to bring the space under community ownership, to protect it as a green space free at the point of access for everyone locally to enjoy now and for the future. Particularly for those who do not have access to a garden or who have disabilities, mobility or access needs that make getting to a park difficult.
Our activities relate to the work that needs to be completed to achieve this goal and to organising activities, gatherings and events to promote the garden and the local community who continue to care about the future of the wee green space.
Our activities currently include monthly planning meetings and an annual Street Play event on Southpark Avenue outside the garden. As we are not able to access the Garden space currently, we are not able to hold the range of events that used to happen there (seasonal gatherings, fundraisers for charity, picnics, community parties etc).
Although this has been a huge set-back it has also given us time and focus to develop our membership, develop our board of Trustees and move forward the work needed to achieve community ownership.
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Street Play 2025
Structure, governance and management
Articles of Association
As we are a registered company with Companies House we hold Articles of Association as our governing document.
As we also have Charitable status our Articles include our charitable purposes.
Trustee recruitment and appointment
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We have been actively recruiting Trustees and trying to diversify our board. Two valued members of our initial board retired but due to regular engagement through meetings and community activities we were able to recruit 3 new board members at our AGM this December.
Hillhead Community Council have ongoing representation on the board and are allowed to appoint two charity trustees.
We are continuing to recruit to increase the diversity, skills and experience within the board to boost our ability to meet our aims. New appointees at the last AGM have a range of technical, organisational and design skills.
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Achievements and performance
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We achieved Charitable status in April 2025.
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We engaged directly with the community by going door to door to speak to people about the garden. Some knew about the space, had been using it and were keen to hear an update. Others who weren’t familiar with it got to know the history and have also become passionate about this wee green space. We now have over 60 people signed up to the Garden membership.
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This year we have made huge strides in developing the board and the organisation’s ability to achieve our charitable aims. We increased the meetings to monthly to respond to the amount of work that needs to be done and how quickly we want and need to achieve this.
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The Street Play that has come out of the Garden discussions has been led by local resident volunteers.
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Financial review
Statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
We set up a crowd funder when the Garden went to auction as a response to the work that we then knew would need to be done to secure the space for the community. We intend to engage in further activities to increase our reserves with the ultimate aim of establishing community ownership.
To achieve this, we are planning on applying for match funding from a variety of sources.
Details of any deficit
We currently have no deficit but rather are just at the early stages of the fundraising required to secure the garden for the community.
Donated facilities and services
We have donated time from our board members and local volunteers in organising events and sharing their skills to run stalls, provide home baking or contribute to the achievement of the ‘The Belgrave Garden’s’ objectives. This includes financial and technical advice. We are in the process of developing a website thanks to the technical skills of one of our Trustees.
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Future plans
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We have developed a business plan which is currently being finalised.
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We are in the process of submitting an application to the Scottish Government for approval to proceed with Community buy out.
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Ongoing monthly meetings and a larger membership meeting including a presentation on the history of the ‘Belgrave Community Garden’ space.
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Street Play June/July 2026.
Additional information
There have been many years of support for the Belgrave Garden, but it has lacked the structure to achieve community ownership and safeguard it for the future. Developing this structure, the experience and skills within the board and the community membership and engagement have been the aim of the last year.
We are now in a strong position, to move forward effectively and secure this precious ‘Wee Green Space’ for the community now and for many years to come.
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Declaration
Signed on behalf of the charity trustees:
Print name Melissa Toner Designation Director Date 1 December 2025
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