Monday 13 September 2010

Redhall Walled Garden

I walked along the Water of Leith this morning as I do almost every Monday morning. Today I was delighted to see a kingfisher for the first time since I've been volunteering with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust. (Before I became a volunteer I used to see kingfishers most times I walked along the river and I have seen them in other places over the past year). It wasn't just the usual flash of blue zipping along the river either, it sat quietly on a branch for quite a while and looked at me. I don't have a camera at the moment but even if I did, I would have rather enjoyed the view than try to take an inferior quality photo. I also had very good views of a dipper, a grey wagtail and a buzzard. There were lots of blue tits, great tits and coal tits in the trees all along the river too.

There are still a couple of places available on the guided walks I'm leading along the Water of Leith starting 28 September. You can find out more here. There are also still places on my Environmental Writing Course that starts the same day. You can read about that here. I've just been asked too to take over a series of birdwatching classes that start on 27 and 29 September (and then again in November). You can read about those here.

Redhall Walled Garden is one of the landmarks of the Water of Leith. This was originally a mill and later became the kitchen gardens for Redhall House across the river. Redhall is a beautiful garden that offers a supportive working environment for up to 35 people who are recovering from mental health problems. There's a lot of practical activity at Redhall - people can develop skills in all areas of organic gardening. The beautiful environment offers a safe place for people to be and to unfold, often at a time in their life when they are experiencing great distress. The garden contains lots of lovely, meditative small gardens, including a wildlife bog garden, a Zen garden and a recreation of an iron age dwelling. Redhall is open from 9am-3pm, Monday to Friday and holds information days once a month along with open days twice a year. You can read more here.

The photo and information about Redhall Gardens have been recycled from a previous post for Organic Fortnight.

What other bloggers are saying about Organic Fortnight:

Organic Food festival from Real Food Lover

8 comments:

RG said...

Your work place looks like a wonderful idea ... people must love to visit and even work there.

Janice Thomson said...

What a wonderful spot and great idea to help people with problems. It was hard to find photos but I managed after a bit of searching to find some. Beautiful gardens.

Scot said...

nice--post some pics of the zen garden when possible or links

this is my patch said...

It sounds a wonderful place. A garden is good therapy. I just love walled gardens and dream of having one, one day? x

wheatgerm said...

Good spot hopefully you can grow some food.

Christina said...

That looks beautiful.

Thomma Lyn said...

What a gorgeous spot. There's nothing like being out in nature -- so heartening and rejuvenating.

mansuetude said...

I had a King Fisher visit me for a week or more last year, and was delighted... my first sighting too.

What a voice he had!