Argyllshire and Dunoon News

In March Forestry Commission Scotland informed Ardentinny Community Council of its intention to sell the Grade B listed 19th century structure. In order not to lose the opportunity to acquire it, Ardentinny Community Council officially registered interest. A subsequent survey of residents strongly supported a community purchase.

As the community council is not empowered to raise funds, Ardentinny Community Trust is being revived to access grant funding for the purchase, fund-raise and run the renovation and future management of this community project.
Community councillor and convener of the Walled Garden Working Group, Dennis Gower,  said: "We are very encouraged by the support we have received from residents regarding the proposed community acquisition of the walled garden.
“With the demise of Glenfinart House, the garden is now the last remaining vestige of the extensive Glenfinart estate which once stretched to Loch Eck and Carrick Castle.
“The walled garden is very important to the Ardentinny community and, although it has been sadly neglected over the past years, we envisage that it could be a vital element in the continued regeneration of our village.
“Our aim is to make the project self-sustaining with the possibility of employment opportunities in the future.”

Residents and those with links to Ardentinny are invited to become members of the Trust and help the community take this exciting project forward. The trust is holding an EGM, accompanied by a small historical walled garden display at 2.30pm on Sunday (July 25) at Glenfinart Hall, Ardentinny.
More information on the Glenfinart Walled Garden project is available at www.ardentinny.org.