Friday August 14th 2026
Members of Dementia Friendly East Lothian in the garden
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
The garden at Musselburgh Library has been chosen as an example of a great community-led learning initiative by the European Cultural Foundation’s ‘Buddies’ project.
Musselburgh was the only library in Scotland, one of only four in the UK, and only 41 across the whole of Europe to be picked out as a great example.
The case studies featured by the Buddies project show what happens when staff go a step further, stepping outside the building, listening to their community, building trust, and facilitating participation with people who are often marginalised or overlooked.
The Musselburgh Library Community Garden began with a conversation with people living with dementia at the Musselburgh Meeting Centre and Dementia Friendly East Lothian (DFEL). There was a shared wish to turn an unused space behind the library into an accessible outdoor area that could combat social isolation, support wellbeing, and offer a place to learn about gardening and nature.
With the help of garden volunteer Kate Allan and support from DFEL, Musselburgh Horticultural Society, Musselburgh Area Partnership, Community Payback and private donors, the space was transformed into a colourful, sustainable garden full of wildlife. As it bloomed, so did interest in taking part. School class visits inspired a popular Junior Gardening Club, which meets every Friday afternoon to teach children how to plant, sow and care for flowers, fruit and vegetables. The club and garden also launched the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge, Story Garden, celebrating the power of stories and nature in bringing communities together.
A thriving raised bed lets groups harvest fresh produce, recently celebrated with a picnic of Spanish potato omelette, tomatoes and mint tea, all grown in the garden. Now in its second summer, the space looks forward to more community events and reading in the sunshine.
Councillor Colin McGinn, Cabinet Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing and Sport, Countryside and Leisure, said: “This is a quite extraordinary project and I’m not surprised it has been chosen as an example of community collaboration right across Europe. This is great recognition for our library colleagues, Dementia Friendly East Lothian, volunteer Kate Allan and all the groups who have made this garden a much-loved and much-used true community space. Well done to everyone involved for this well-deserved accolade.”
The Buddies project is described as being ‘built on a simple conviction: public libraries are far more than collections and reading rooms. They are trusted, accessible spaces where communities come together, where people can learn and grow, and where democratic values are kept alive’.
They said: “Musselburgh Library’s work with local volunteers, community groups and people of all ages, demonstrates the power of co-creating community services and spaces to combat social isolation and promote wellbeing and sustainability.
You can read the full report on the Europe Challenge website.
Tweet Share on Facebook
