The Barn’s Walled Garden project secures funding following public vote

Together, these significant investments mark a major milestone for the project and will enable the Barn realise a long-held, community-led vision for the Walled Garden.

Funding through the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund is awarded solely via public vote.

From its earliest stages, the Walled Garden has been developed in close collaboration with the community. The design, created by Christopher Palmer Associates, was shaped directly by public consultation, local insight and shared ambition.

Funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, supported by Aberdeenshire Council, enables the Barn to begin Phase One of the project. This investment builds on earlier support received in 2024, when the Fund awarded the Barn a fully funded feasibility study delivered by Definity Consulting. In October this year, further UK Shared Prosperity funding was confirmed, allowing the Barn to progress from planning into delivery. As a result, local contractors Terra Foras will be able to break ground in early 2026.

In addition to the UK Shared Prosperity and Just Transition awards, the project has also benefited from a grant from the Morrison’s Foundation, which enabled local contractor CRC to remove old tarpaulins and clear natural debris, preparing the site for regeneration.

Thanks to the combined support of both the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and the Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund, the Walled Garden will become a fully accessible community space. It will be a place where people of all ages can get creative outdoors, learn regenerative growing practices, connect with others and enhance wellbeing.

The garden is already home to a 100-year-old apple tree, which will be carefully preserved as part of the renovation. Regeneration of the space will also create new habitats for native wildlife. With panoramic views of Scolty and Clachnaben, the Walled Garden will grow into a thriving, inspiring environment for the whole community.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund, part of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda, focuses on delivering visible improvements to places and communities, alongside investment in people and opportunity. The Just Transition Participatory Budgeting Fund, funded by the Scottish Government, empowers local residents to direct investment towards community-led, green projects that support the North East’s transition to Net Zero.

The Barn said it is proud that the Walled Garden contributes meaningfully to both of these initiatives, supporting place-based regeneration, climate action and community wellbeing.