On a wet and windy 10th of February, a bunch of hardy volunteers came together in the Moniaive Community Garden to construct their new Composter. After months of planning and preparation, we were finally ready to put together the Jora 400 Composter gifted to us through the Propagate and DG Community Food Network pilot community composting project (funded by Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway). Under the watchful eye of Senga (DG Climate Hub), we were the first of the three communities taking part to construct our new composter.
We’re now one big step closer to launching the Moniaive Community Composting Group.
If you’d like to get involved and haven’t signed up yet, just drop Katie a message — we’d love to have you on board!
katie.moniaiveinitiative@gmail.com
With thanks to DG Community Food Network, DG Climate Hub and Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway for helping to make this happen.
Moniaive Initiative are working with other Development Trusts in the DG3 area to hold a survey of bus users, aimed at gathering information that we can then take forward with the Council and bus companies, to advocate for improvements to bus services.
You can help us by completing the survey – just four simple questions to tell us what you use, and how you would like it to look. You can scan the QR codes at the bus stops with your smartphone, or you can access the survey here:
For those unable to complete the survey online, we are providing paper copies in Watsons and The Hive. These will need to be returned to The Hive by the survey close date of 20 February.
Following the recent postponement of our AGM due to illness, we are now pleased to give you the new date, and invite you to attend:
As always, we aim to keep it short and sweet, so there is plenty of time for discussion following the business of the evening. But we do have some work to do, and we need members to attend to allow us to make some minor amendments to our Constitution this year. The proposed amendments are as follows: Clause 11.1 (new addition), Clause 14 (removal), Clause 54.1 (new addition). You can see them in the full document here:
Members are strongly encouraged to come along on the evening to vote in our Board of Trustees and approve our proposed Constitution amendments.
Everyone else is warmly invited to just come along for a chat and find out what we do. Membership forms will be available on the night for anyone wishing to join!
The Glencairn Local Place Plan is being launched today, at the start of the statutory 28-day consultation period. It has been drafted by a Steering Group of local people, led by Glencairn Community Council and supported by Moniaive Initiative. It aims to recognise both the challenges to, and the aspirations of, our community. Once adopted, the document will sit formally within the Council’s planning system, and the contents will be recognised as a ‘material consideration’ which has to be taken into account when planning decisions are made.
You can read the document online (below) and will also be able to access paper copies at the Repair Cafe today (Saturday 1st November 2025, 10am-1pm, Glencairn Memorial Institute) and thereafter at The Hive and Watsons Grocery Store.
Apologies, but we have to postpone the AGM planned for Wednesday 29th October due to illness.
We will announce a new date as soon as possible.
In the meantime, those of you who were looking forward to getting your first look at the Local Place Plan document at our AGM will still be able to see it at the Repair Cafe (10am-1pm in the Glencairn Memorial Institute) on Saturday 1st November, where Deborah will be happy to show you the document and answer any questions. Further LPP consultation events will be announce shortly.
Our AGM is coming up, and this is a great time to find out what we have been doing, and what we would like to do next. Your voice counts, so come along and tell us what is important to you. Don’t forget, Members vote to elect our Trustees, so why not come along and show your support for our work?
PLEASE NOTE: Some VENUES have now changed, due to adverse weather conditions!
We have a lovely selection of walks, talks and activities on offer during our Green Gathering. Most of these will take place in, or start from, the Moniaive Community Garden (at the end of the village car park). For all events (except the Saturday afternoon walk) you can just turn up on the day, no need to book.
(MEET AT THE HIVE) For the SEED SAVING WORKSHOP we will take a short walk to a nearby garden to gather seed from heritage vegetable plants, showing you how to safely gather and store them to last until next season.
(NOW IN THE GLENCAIRN MEMORAL INSTITUTE) In FROM ORCHARD TO PANTRY you will learn all about the many ways to process and preserve apples. This activity includes a free lunch.
(NOW IN THE HIVE) Discover the hidden histories carved into everyday objects with WOODEN STORIES, a talk by Chris Lee. Reuse, Remember, Reconnect.
Our regular Saturday morning REPAIR CAFE at the Glencairn Memorial Institute will be a children’s special, with opportunities for youngsters to try a range of hands-on activities to introduce them to the joys of fixing, mending and re-using. Because repairing can be hungry work, we’ll be serving a free lunch.
On Saturday afternoon Antoine will lead: WHO GOES THERE – a walk and talk about animal tracks and trails (Pre-booking required for this one).
Sunday morning starts bright and early with a Bird Ringing Demo from the North Solway Ringing group, so come along to find how their work contributes to conservation efforts and our wider knowledge of the bird populations. The event will take place in the John Corrie Wildlife Garden (behind the Bowls Club).
This will be followed by a BBQ in the Community Garden, and a chance to relax, chat and make new friends.
Finally, we’ll round our weekend off with a WORMERY WORKSHOP. We know you’ll all be full from the BBQ, but why not stay and help us build the new wormery for the community garden? In the process you can learn just how useful our wiggly friends can be!
Throughout the weekend we will also be offering drop-in activities. So if you fancy a go at BOTANICAL PRINTING, or would like to help us with a mini BIOBLITZ, come along and find out how it’s done.
ALL our activities are FREE, but if you’ve enjoyed our events, we will happily accept a donation, to allow us to hold more events like this.
We will be holding our first Green Gathering at the start of October, offering a range of outdoor events and activities, mostly centred on our Community Garden. There will be walks, talks, lunches and activities for all the family. No need to book, just turn up on the day (-but please dress for the weather!)
More information on event times will follow shortly.
Congratulations to everyone at Glencairn Bowling Club for organising another successful Toddy’s Tipple bowling tournament. This year’s event raised a fantastic £2,580 for the Macmillan Community Nurse Team. Our three teams (Repair Cafe, Community Garden and Trustees) had a great time, and are already looking forward to competing again next year!
moniaiveinitiative.org.uk 