Innovation and community growing space: Development of the ‘polycrub’

CASE STUDYClimate Challenge Fund (CCF) grants enabled Northmavine Community Development Company, (NCDC) Shetland to design and install of a network of ‘weather proof’ polytunnels - meeting community demand to grow local produce. Rebranded as ‘polycrubs’ these structures have since been used across Shetland, in the Western Isles and beyond.

For further information see innovation or food sections in ‘project themes’ of www.climatechallengefund.org

Keep Scotland Beautiful is proud to manage and develop the Climate Challenge Fund on behalf of the Scottish Government

What type of project would reduce carbon emissions and help the community? A ‘weather proof’ structure to enable

local people to grow their own produce.

Who did NCDC consult before applying to the CCF? The local community were surveyed

and results indicated:

-Interest within community in growing -Perception that land was unavailable -Conventional polytunnels had limited success

What did the CCF grants fund?

2008: Community Polytunnel project - part of Powerdown Project. Awarded CCF grant of £80,695 Powerdown project covering local

food and energy to help residents reduce carbon emissions and save money. Powerdown Officer identified the most

suitable ‘polytunnel’ type structure for the Shetland climate.

Community benefits: Access to space locally to grow

produce and a new network in Northmavine, with an exchange of knowledge, seeds etc between and within polytunnels.

Intergenerational learning as age range of users extends from 2 years to over 80.

Sustainable legacy: Polytunnels rebranded as Polycrubs

and offered for sale by NCDCs trading subsidiary, nortenergy Ltd who won Shetland Environmental Award for green credentials displayed.

Polycrubs use expanded over Shetland, in school grounds to private gardens meaning increased production and consumption of local produce on Shetland.

Polycrubs exported to other areas of Scotland - CCF funded project Horsharder Community Growing Project on Western Isles have one.

2009: Community Polytunnels Project (Awarded CCF grant of £41,821) 12 community ‘polytunnels’ later

renamed polycrubs built in Northmavine with hosts receiving free polytunnel in return for sharing their land with 4 - 5 neighbours.

Why have carbon emissions decrease? 60 people growing food locally - many

for first time. The reuse of materials in the design of

the structures means that around 2km of redundant salmon cage pipe has been diverted from landfill.

Measuring the reduction in carbon emissions: The CCF recommends a baseline of

growing levels before project activities is established and that fruit and vegetables grown locally are weighed. Figures obtained can then be input into

the recommended carbon conversion spreadsheet to convert them into carbon emissions.

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Keep Scotland Beautiful is the independent charity which campaigns, acts and educates on a range of local, national and global environmental issues which affect people’s quality of life. It is committed to making Scotland clean and green, today and tomorrow.

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