Food Growing
West Lothian Council supports all forms of community food growing, from allotments and community gardens to community planters and fruit trees in public spaces.
Growing food can be a cheap way to eat healthily as well as a great way to get some exercise and also relax.
There are currently six active allotment sites in West Lothian (many privately-run) and fifteen community gardens. There are also other, less formal community growing initiatives throughout the area and many schools grow food in their grounds as well.
Food Growing Strategy
The West Lothian Council Food Growing Strategy 2020-25 has been formally adopted and supersedes the previous WLC Allotment Strategy. The Food Growing Strategy can be viewed here:
The Food Growing Strategy was produced as part of our duties within the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015:
Allotments
The Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 Part 9 Section 121 states that each local authority must prepare and publish an annual allotments report for its area. The most up to date report by West Lothian Council is Allotment Report 12 September 2023 (PDF, 698 KB)(opens new window).
Community Food Outlets
For community food-growing groups looking to donate any excess produce, you can contact your local community food outlet. Click on this link to find your nearest outlet and their contact details: Access to Food
Contacts
If you would like to help grow in your community, view the lists below for contact details of the known community growing initiatives in West Lothian. You can also view a map of these and other initiatives by clicking - Google Map – Food Growing sites in West Lothian (opens new window)
| Site name | Owners | No. plots | Group name | Contact info |
| Killandean Allotment | West Lothian Council - leased to group | 46 | Killandean Community Allotment Association | Email: Killandean Allotments (opens new window) |
| Deans Meadow Allotment | West Lothian Council - leased to group | 22 | Deans Meadow Allotment Association | Email: deansmeadow@gmail.com (opens new window) |
| Linlithgow Allotments | Private | 72 | Linlithgow and District Allotment Association Committee | Website: Linlithgow and District Allotment Society (opens new window) |
| Kirknewton Allotments | Private | 30 | Kirknewton Allotment Association | Website: Kirknewton Allotments Association (opens new window) |
| Harburn Allotments | Private | 75 | n/a | Email: Harburn Allotments (opens new window) |
| Winchburgh Allotments | Private | 26 | n/a | Email: Property@hopetoun.co.uk (opens new window) |
| Roukenglen Allotments (technically in Falkirk, but on the border with West Lothian) | Private (Garden Centre) | 195 | n/a | Email: Roukenglen Allotments (opens new window) |
Community Gardens
| Site name | Owners | No. plots | Group name | Contact info |
| Community Woods and Garden, Polbeth and West Calder | West Lothian Council - leased | West Calder and Harburn Community | Website: Community Woods and Garden, Polbeth and West Calder (opens new window)
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| Knightsridge Community Garden | West Lothian Council | some starter plots | The Vennie | Email:Knightsridge Community Garden (opens new window) FB: Knightsridge Community Garden - Facebook (opens new window) |
| Beechbrae (Blackridge) | Charity owned | Beechbrae (charity) | Email:Beechbrae email (opens new window) FB:Beechbrae Facebook (opens new window) Insta:Beechbrae Instagram (opens new window) Website:Beechbrae (opens new window) | |
| Craigshill Community Gardens | Almond Housing | Growing Together Project/ West Lothian Youth Action Project | Email: Craigshill Community Gardens (Growing Together) (opens new window) | |
| Pumpherston Community Garden | West Lothian Council | Pumpherston and Uphall Station Community Council | Contact the Community Council | |
| Whitburn Community Garden | West Lothian Council | Some raised beds | Whitburn and District Community Development Trust | Email: Whitburn Community Garden (opens new window) |
| Murieston Community Garden | West Lothian Council | Murieston Community Garden | Email: Murieston Community Garden (opens new window) | |
| Old Bowling Green (Maree Walk, Craigshill) | West Lothian Council | West Lothian Youth Action Project | ||
| Strathbrock Community Garden | West Lothian Council | Broxburn & Uphall Growers Society | Email:Broxburn and Uphall Growers Society (opens new window) | |
| Auldcathie District Park (Winchburgh) | Winchburgh Developments Ltd | Winchburgh Community Growing Group | Website:Winchburgh Community Growing Group (opens new window) | |
| Addiewell Community Garden | West Lothian Council | Addiewell Community Council | ||
| Ladywell Community Garden | West Lothian Council | Ladywell Community Council | ||
| Crofthead Community Garden | West Lothian Council | Crofthead Farm Community Education Centre | ||
| Howden Park Walled Garden | West Lothian Council | TCV - Ladywell and Howden Green Health Project | Email:TCV - Ladywell and Howden Green Health Project (opens new window) |
Orchards and Forest Gardens
| Site name | Owners | Group name | Contact info |
| Winchburgh - various sites | West Lothian Council | Winchburgh Community Growing Group | Email: Winchburgh Community Growing Group (opens new window) FB: Winchburgh Community Growing Group - Facebook (opens new window) Website: Winchburgh Community Growing Group (opens new window) |
| Kirkton Park (Bathgate) | West Lothian Council | Friends of Kirkton Park | FB: Friends of Kirkton Park |
| Beechbrae (Blackridge) | Charity owned | Beechbrae | Email: Beechbrae (opens new window) FB: Beechbrae (opens new window) Website: Beechbrae (opens new window) |
| Xcite Linlithgow, Beechwood, The Vennel (Linlithgow) | West Lothian Council | Linlithgow Community Development Trust/Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow | |
| Lanthorn Park, Dedridge | West Lothian Council | West Lothian Council | Contact West Lothian Council |
| Murieston Wildflower Meadow and Orchard | West Lothian Council | Murieston Community Council | FB:Murieston Community Garden (opens new window) |
| Broxburn - Holmes Park, Glebe park. Uphall - Millbank Park | West Lothian Council | Broxburn and Uphall Growers Society (BUGS) - fruit trees and bushes in parks | Email: Broxburn and Uphall Growers Society (opens new window) FB: Broxburn and Uphall Growers Society (BUGS) (opens new window) |
General Community Growing
| Site name | Owners | Group name | Contact info |
| West Calder - planters in village/town centre | West Lothian Council | West Calder CDT | FB: West Calder CDT - Facebook (opens new window) |
| Broxburn / Uphall - planters at various sites | West Lothian Council/private | Broxburn and Uphall Growers Society (BUGS) | Email: Broxburn and Uphall Growers Society (opens new window) FB: Broxburn and Uphall Growers (BUG) - Facebook (opens new window) |
| Winchburgh - planters at various sites | West Lothian Council/private | Winchburgh Community Growing Group | Email: Winchburgh Community Growing Group (opens new window) FB:Winchburgh Community Growing Group - Facebook (opens new window) Website: Winchburgh Community Growing Group (opens new window) |
| Linlithgow -various sites | West Lothian Council | Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow | |
| Linlithgow - various | Linlithgow Community Development Trust | FB:Linlithgow Community Development Trust (opens new window) Website: Linlithgow Community Development Trust
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Saint Vincent de Paul Society Garden Project | St. Michael's R C Church | Email: St. Michael’s R C Church (opens new window) |
