Community News

Colourful Carnoustie and the Rest (Rock) Garden

Carnoustie is full of green spaces, some of them named and some not. The Rest Garden, as many of you will know, is the small park diagonally opposite the Leisure Centre, and it forms a convenient shortcut from Ferrier St to the facilities on Links Parade. For this reason The R&A used it as the main entrance to the Open Golf Tournament in 2018.

Financial pressures pose challenges for the maintenance of all the green spaces in the town, so over the years Colourful Carnoustie (a voluntary group), has taken over the maintenance of certain areas, such as the train station, the planters and summer hanging baskets in the town centre, along with various other areas.

East Haven Together

East Haven Together are a group who are committed to developing resilience and achieving a sustainable future for those who live, visit or work in the area. They work closely and collaboratively with other groups and organisations both within Angus and across Scotland.

In 2003 residents helped fund the first section of National Cycle Network 1 to connect Carnoustie with East Haven for walkers and cyclists to enjoy and utilise for travel and leisure. The path was further extended up the coast in 2012 and now attracts thousands of visitors every year.

The public toilets known locally as the ‘wee gallery’ are the only public facility in East Haven. They are cleaned and managed by residents who provide flowers and display their own paintings to create a warm welcome to all.

Volunteers meet every Thursday morning between March and October to maintain coastal community gardens and the general amenity of the area. Groups including school children are welcomed throughout the year to take part in various activities to learn more about local history and natural heritage. The group undertake a lot of work to protect and conserve the marine environment and promote biodiversity. Working towards sustainable development goals has led to the achievement of many national awards in recognition of East Haven’s work.

If you would like to get involved with East Haven Together’s initiative, then please contact: easthaventogether@gmail.com

Have you got news or an event to share with the community?

Just email: community@carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk using the subject line ‘The Link Community’.

After the Open, The R&A provided funds and asked Colourful Carnoustie to try and restore parts of the Rest Garden. The rockery, established in 1938, had completely vanished under large bushes and trees, and various other beds were in a poor state. Unfortunately lock-down delayed the start of any work. However, since June 2021 we have managed, slowly but surely, to make some improvements. Hundreds of bulbs have been planted, perennial and heather beds created, hedging and picnic benches installed, parts of the rockery uncovered and long-hidden stone edging for the paths dug up, also the entrance to the garden from Ferrier St has been tarmacked.

Over the next few years, manpower permitting, we will continue to develop the rockery, install an Information board, and more seating.

Help is always needed - for weeding, watering, digging, ideas, so feel free to contact us through our Facebook page or at colourfulcarnoustie@outlook.com. During 2022-23 we are also one of the recipients of the Co-op Local Community Fund, so do please join the Co-op and support us on co-operate.coop.co.uk

The Wheels Are Turning Once Again

To our delight the wheels at Cycling Without Age Carnoustie are well and truly turning once again. This free facility is designed for those with limited mobility within the community so, please come along and enjoy. Cycling Without Age are delighted to have recruited and trained a fantastic group of additional volunteer pilots from the Carnoustie area, all of whom are ready and keen to take passengers out once again in 2023.

Trips during 2022 have brought joy to all our ‘passengers’ who have loved returning to the seafront and having the feeling of ‘the wind in their hair’, the miles of smiles associated with each trip tells it’s own story. Trips along the sea front, chatting to passers by, and on better days enjoying the pleasure of an ice cream whilst taking in the views. The observation of the Trishaws in action has proved to be a real talking point amongst visitors.

For our Pilots, this is a great way to keep fit whilst doing something hugely rewarding within our community. For further information email: lyoung37@btinternet.com or text 07876 743 666

Carnoustie Panbride Church: Coffee & Chat

Our church halls are open daily for community use including dancing, yoga, pilates, the Carnoustie Pipe Band and Arbroath & Carnoustie Instrumental Band also enjoy using the halls. We are home to Angus & Dundee Bird Club as well as Carnoustie Recorded Music Circle, and we were delighted to welcome back Primary 6 of Carlogie School with their fairtrade, Fairlogie Café. Something that is important to us is bringing people together, especially in these cold, dark winter months. Weekly we have a ‘Coffee & Chat’ where people can meet together in a warm space and have a conversation over a hot drink and a tasty pancake. The Friendship Circle meets once a fortnight with guest speakers and musical groups. We also have a Men’s Breakfast once per month where the men of the community get together and chat over a delicious hot roll.

We are the venue for the monthly Alzheimer Scotland Carnoustie Drop-In. Recognising the need to support people living with forms of dementia and their families, a member of our congregation recently started Panbride Musical Memories which takes place on the last Wednesday of the month in Panbride Hall. This is a time of music and fun, an opportunity to sing songs old and new and it is a delight to see how a song can bring back so many memories.

If you are interested in any of the events above, please contact Rev Annette Gordon on: 01241 854478.

The Co-op Local Community Fund

“I’m Sophie Thompson and I am the Member Pioneer for Co-op. I am part of the Community & Membership Participation Team, covering Carnoustie. I work in partnership with our Barry Road and High Street store managers, colleagues, people in the community and our members. My role focuses on connecting and supporting the community to improve fairer access to Food, Mental Health Services and Education.

The Co-op Local Community Fund is our largest fund and each year 3 local causes are chosen by our in store colleagues to be supported. When members buy our own branded products 1p from every £1 spent goes to local causes. This round, the 3 local causes are; Food is Free Carnoustie, Colourful Carnoustie and Carnoustie Panmure Community Football Club. Be sure to go on our Membership App or call us using the number on the back of your card to select which local cause you would like to support. I would love to connect with local community groups and projects, send me an email at: sophie.thompson@coop.co.uk

Catch me on social media on Twitter @SoMemberPioneer and on Instagram @So_Mantra.”

The Carnoustie Community Cafe

Open every Tuesday from 12pm - 3pm at The Comrie Hall, Links Ave, Carnoustie, the café is run by the community for the community. The Wee Wander walking group is also available prior to the café opening, with walks starting at 11:30am. Having a venue available to the walkers is important due to the unpredictable weather of Scotland. These activities hope to bring people together who may be isolated, have physical or mental health issues, aiming to improve overall health and wellbeing to the members of our community, and to give volunteering opportunities to those who want to give something back to their community.

The Café promotes healthy food options, providing a variety of meal choices in return for an optional donation. Hot and cold drinks also available during sessions. Find out more, email: mcneild@angus.gov.uk or call: 07552009952