Restoring the Relationship With the Land, with Luna Amanita from The Wash House Garden

In this episode, Fay meets Luna Amanita, co-director of the Wash House Garden - a groundbreaking community enterprise rejuvenating the land behind the historic Parkhead Wash House. 

The garden, once a local focal point, continues to prioritise community, seamlessly weaving together the well-being of both people and the environment, cultivating enduring connections through community-based food growing. 

Luna discusses the importance of community engagement in deepening the connection with the land. She also talks to Fay about beekeeping and its educational value for the Wash House Garden team and their volunteers.

Join us as we explore their mission to make the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of gardening accessible to all.


Highlights:
  1. Introduction to the Wash House Garden
    • Timestamp: 00:00:00 - 00:00:37
    • Luna Amanita describes the Wash House Garden in Parkhead, East Glasgow, noting its diverse volunteer base and the various capacities in which people engage with the space.
  2. Historical Significance and Current Use of the Land
    • Timestamp: 00:02:00 - 00:03:35
    • Luna explains the historical background of the land, believed to be the drying ground for the old Parkhead wash house and possibly used for food growing during the war. She discusses the transformation of the space into a market garden.
  3. Gardening Practices and Soil Health
    • Timestamp: 00:04:00 - 00:05:17
    • Luna details their ecological gardening practices, emphasising soil health through composting and organic material. She mentions the challenges and labour involved in maintaining the garden.
  4. Beekeeping and Education Initiatives
    • Timestamp: 00:13:00 - 00:14:00
    • Luna talks about their beekeeping program, including hive inspections and the educational courses they offer. She shares her personal experience and the responsibilities of managing the bees with her team.
  5. Community Engagement and Volunteer Involvement
    • Timestamp: 00:20:10 - 00:21:05
    • Luna discusses the variability in volunteer numbers and the importance of community engagement. She highlights efforts to make the garden more accessible and responsive to the needs and interests of the local community.

Learn more:
  • Connect with The Wash House Garden via their website and follow them on Instagram @TheWashHouseGarden
  • Follow Glasgow City Heritage Trust on social media: @GlasgowHeritage #Is Glasgow Walls Could Talk
  • Produced by Inner Ear (innerear.co.uk) for Glasgow City Heritage Trust
  • Sponsored by Tunnock's (tunnock.co.uk)

Creators and Guests

Fay Young
Host
Fay Young
Writer, blogger, editor. Love wild woodland gardens & city jungles, song & dance (also tweet poetry, food and politics) co-editor @sceptical_scot
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Niall Murphy
Host
Niall Murphy
Niall Murphy, who is the Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, is a conservation architect and is heavily involved in heritage, conservation and community issues in Glasgow. Niall is also Chair of Govanhill Baths Building Preservation Trust and was previously chair of Pollokshields Heritage, Planning Convener for Pollokshields Community Council and a member of the Glasgow Urban Design Panel. Between 2016 – 2018 he was a member of the Development Management Working Group for the Scottish Government’s Planning Review. Niall regularly lectures or does walking tours on architecture, heritage and urban design issues. Niall has won the Glasgow Doors Open Day Excellence Award for Outstanding Talk (2023) and for Inspiring City Tour (2017), the Glasgow Doors Open Day Above and Beyond Award (2014), the Sir Robert Lorimer Award for Sketching (1996) and, in addition to nominations for Saltire Awards and GIA Awards was nominated for the Scottish Civic Trust’s My Place Award for Civic Champion in 2015.
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Anny Deery
Producer
Anny Deery
TV Producer. Retrained Massage Therapist @glasgowholistic. Live in Glasgow. Mother of a 8 yo + three year old.
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Glasgow City Heritage Trust