An Inverkeithing community garden has been awarded £20,000 in funding to keep growing.

The money was allocated to the “growing together” project by the National Lottery Community Fund and will be used to recruit a new part time coordinator.

The garden is located just off the town’s High Street and is open every day from March to October.

Since 2010, it has been developed and maintained by an enthusiastic group of volunteers who use it to grow a range of fruit, flowers and vegetables.

It also has an impressive orchard with over 40 heritage apple, plum and fig trees.

Chair of the group Rosie Gibson said: “The garden’s been going for years now on a voluntary basis, so it’s brilliant to get this funding so we can pay someone to do this responsible job.

“Hopefully it’ll give an opportunity to someone who would love to do it because they’re conscious of issues like climate change.

“There’s a lot of younger people who would love to do this job but need the money, whereas in the past we’ve relied on people who are retired and happy to do things voluntarily.

“I spent a couple of weeks in the summer just observing people coming and going, and you can see the benefit that people get just from being in a really tranquil place.

"There are community groups like the 68th Beavers that use it, and we really want to encourage that as well."

The new coordinator will be tasked with reaching out to the local community to hear what seasonal activities and events are in demand and encouraging use of the garden, as well as leading the team of volunteers in their weekly garden sessions.

It’s hoped that the position will be filled by the time that the garden opens back up in March 2025.