Community Backgreens
Almost all of the tenements in Edinburgh have a backgreen. In some cases these backgreens are well used and cared for, and in others, neglected and of little amenity to the residents. ECBA was established to encourage and support tenement dwellers to work with their neighbours to regenerate backgreens into beautiful and bountiful community greenspaces, which encourage a sense of community and support sustainable lifestyles.
The kind of support we can offer depends upon the goals of the residents and the make up of the backgreens where you live. In this section of the website we have provided information about the community backgreen model. If you have any questions after having a browse, get in touch.
Background Tenement backgreens in Edinburgh are normally communally owned by all of the flats in the stair much like the stair and the roof. Traditionally, the primary purpose of backgreens were to dry clothes, and this is still the case at some tenements. Nowadays, there is also interest in the potential for backgreens to be used for other purposes, for growing fruit and vegetables, play spaces for small children, storing bicycles etc.
However, with the high turnover of owners and tenants the management of many backgreens has broken down, and the communal ownership of the backgreens have inhibited initiative on the part of individual residents who are unsure if they are allowed to make changes to their backgreen or whether their neighbours might want to join in. Part of ECBA's role has been to make the connections between residents to explore how best backgreens can be used.
Caleys Community Backgreen in Dalry
CommunityFor us, the most important part of a community backgreen project is the community that live around it. We need people who live around the backgreen/s to volunteer their time to set-up the project and then to maintain and enjoy using it. The development and management of community backgreens is a fantastic way to build a sense of community in a tenement and/or around a tenement square.
At the tenement level we encourage neighbours to work together to improve their backgreen. At larger sites with multiple backgreens we establish community backgreen associations to facilitate decision making and managment.
Community backgreens are created by neighbours working together at 'blitz' workshops to clear the ground, install raised beds, plant fruit trees etc.
Blitz Workshop at Wheatfield Community Backgreen The features of a community backgreen will depend upon the size of the site and the aspirations of the folk that live around it.
With the agreement and support of the neighbours, a tired or weedy backgreen can be regenerated into a beautiful community greenspace. Raised beds can be installed, fruit trees and bushes, a picnic table and even a shed for storing bicycles.
At larger sites, our first goal is to develop a 'community green' in the centre of the site. The community green is the focus of community activities and services, it is where we install a co-shed and other facilities.
Community green and Co-shed at Orwell Community BackgreenWherever possible, the community green will be located in a small area in the centre of the site, which all residents can gain access to. The community green provides a central location for shared activities and community facilities which might be useful to all of the households such as, a community tool shed (co-shed), a jungle gym play area for young children, a community composting facility, bike sheds or whatever the residents decide.
Inside Orwell Community Backgreen Co-shed