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At The Hidden Gardens, we believe urban greenspaces can be much more than nice places to visit, they can be vital homes for wildlife and places where people and nature thrive together. An essential part of this is understanding the ecosystem through surveying, something which everyone can get involved with through citizen science surveying.

Gardens play an important role in supporting biodiversity, especially in cities where natural habitats are limited. Through surveys, observations, and community involvement, we’ve been learning more about the plants, insects, birds, fungi, and other wildlife that share this space with us. This work helps us understand what’s here now, how things change over time, and how we can care for the gardens in ways that support healthy ecosystems.

A key part of the project has been citizen science. Using the citizen science recording app iNaturalist visitors and volunteers have been helping to log species whenever they explore the gardens. Every record adds to a wider picture of biodiversity locally and beyond, contributing to real scientific knowledge. But it’s not just about data. Getting involved has helped many people notice nature in new ways — spotting insects in the grass, birds in the trees, or fungi on fallen wood. This kind of close observation builds curiosity, care, and a stronger connection to the natural world.

The results so far have been exciting. Several species recorded at The Hidden Gardens were first records for Glasgow or even Scotland, showing how important small urban spaces can be for nature. It’s a powerful reminder that biodiversity can thrive where people take the time to notice and protect it. For the full report click here !

The Hidden Gardens are a shared home for people and wildlife. There are lots of ways to get involved, from joining bird and pollinator surveys to recording sightings on your phone or simply paying closer attention when you visit: everyone can play a part! As we look ahead we’re excited to keep growing this work: learning, sharing, and caring for the life that makes this place so special.

The Hidden Gardens is thrilled to welcome its new Chief Executive, Mahri Reilly, who has taken up her new role this week.

Mahri brings a wealth of experience in Glasgow’s third sector and performing arts worlds, most recently with the award-winning youth arts organisation Toonspeak. Her priorities will be to develop the Gardens’ role as a cultural and community hub, deepening its impact and building ever stronger partnerships. She takes over from Amanda Patterson, who led the Hidden Gardens brilliantly for the last 17 years.

Chair of the Hidden Gardens Trust, Cllr Jon Molyneux, said:

“We are really pleased to welcome Mahri to the Hidden Gardens. Her energy, vision and commitment will be vital as we move into the next phase of the Gardens’ journey. Over the past 20 years the Gardens has been a place for people to come together, make memories and share great moments. We are now looking to the future with a real desire to increase our impact, especially by forging really strong partnerships with different communities that can benefit from what the Gardens has to offer. We are really excited to have Mahri join us to drive that work.”

Mahiri Reilly said:

“I am deeply honoured to step into the role of Chief Executive at The Hidden Gardens. From the moment you enter, the Gardens feel like a quiet heartbeat in the centre of the city. A place where art, nature and community breathe together. It is a sanctuary shaped by creativity, peace and care, inviting us to imagine what a more compassionate world might look like.

Throughout my career I have witnessed how participatory arts can nurture connection, healing and growth. I am inspired to deepen the Gardens’ role as a cultural and community home rooted in peacebuilding, where people can gather, celebrate creativity, and make space for both reflection and joyful expression. Here, we are invited to tend the land gently and to practise a more thoughtful coexistence with nature and with one another. I look forward to working with the team, our partners and the people of Glasgow and beyond, to help the Gardens continue to flourish, offering beauty, belonging and inspiration for many years to come.”

Mahri Reilly is a multidisciplinary artist and cultural leader whose practice is rooted in socially engaged arts, creative wellbeing, and community collaboration. She has held senior leadership roles across the arts: Artistic Director at Toonspeak Young Peoples Theatre, Associate Producer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Creative Director at Scottish Youth Theatre, Head of Learning and Participation at Ovalhouse Theatre London, and Learn Project Manager at the National Theatre of Scotland. She serves as a Trustee for Loop Theatre, a disability-inclusive theatre company, and has worked across festivals and events throughout the UK with Surge Scotland. She champions Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, creative participation, and values-driven community engagement in cultural leadership, and is a recipient of the RCS Innovation Studio Award for her practice-based research project, The Winter Grief Retreat.

Trained in Contemporary Theatre at RCS, Mahri performed with traditional travelling circus before re-training in Physical Theatre. A qualified complementary therapist specialising in massage and bodywork, and certified Yin Yoga instructor, she integrates wellbeing, creativity, and meaningful connection into all aspects of her leadership practice.

We look forward to introducing Mahri to The Hidden Gardens community in 2026!

Among all of those who have shaped The Hidden Gardens, few have influenced its story as significantly as our Chief Executive. After sixteen years at The Hidden Gardens, Amanda is moving on, and we want to express our sincere thanks for everything she has contributed.

From the beginning, Amanda has been a steady and caring guide, someone who truly believed in what The Hidden Gardens stands for. Her wholehearted belief in the power of this space to bring peace, inspiration, and belonging to everyone who walked through the gates has been at the heart of everything.

Throughout Amanda’s time with the gardens she has been a consistent and supportive presence, helping to guide the organisations’ development and championing the importance of this space for everyone who visits and takes part in our programmes. So many wonderful events, projects, and collaborations have happened over the years, and a huge part of that has been Amanda’s dedication and hard work.

Amanda’s commitment to both the gardens and the people who make up our community has played a significant role in shaping what The Hidden Gardens is today. We are deeply grateful for their leadership and wish them every success in the next chapter. The team, with colleagues and friends, held a small celebratory gathering to wish Amanda well on her onward journey! We look forward to welcoming her back as honoured visitor in the near future.

This summer, The Hidden Gardens has been buzzing! The hum of bees in the colourful blooms or the laughter of children on the lawn, and the happy sounds of people coming together, sharing food, creativity, and nature.

A Picnic to Remember

Kicking off the summer we partnered with Interfaith Glasgow for the Taste the Place summer picnic as part of Glasgow’s 850th birthday celebrations brought families from all walks of life into the gardens.

Picnic blankets across the grass, dishes from every corner of the world, and laughter rose above the trees. Children ran between the trees, music floated across the lawns, and the simple act of sharing food became something magical. It was a moment that felt like the city itself: colourful, diverse, and brimming with kindness.

Refugee Festival Scotland

When midsummer came in June, we hosted an event as part of Refugee Festival Scotland. Families and friends gathered and the space was once again filled with music, food, and the warmth of community. We made artworks which showed how plants grow roots, tied herbs into delicious bouquet garni, and made scented flowers to hang in our homes. There was a little inclement weather but that didn’t dampen the spirits of everyone, and the sun still shone!

The Hidden Kitchen at Govanhill Carnival

Summer also saw our community food programme,  The Hidden Kitchen,  step out into the wider community, taking part in the Govanhill Carnival. Against the backdrop of one of Glasgow’s most vibrant neighbourhood celebrations, our team served up flavours that carried the spirit of the gardens beyond our gates.

Thankyou to everyone who contributed, supported and participated in the summer of 2025. It has been a wonderful season and we’re looking forward to the changing colours and beauty of Autumn.

Sign Up: FREE but ticketed! please go to https://forms.gle/XerUeZHhfX5YSL648 to register !

Next Wednesday, March 5th, we’re unveiling a brand-new, collectively made artwork in the Gardens! We Are All Keepers Of Earth was co-created by The Hidden Gardens community members who worked with artist Grace Browne to develop this new inspiring call to action for biodiversity.

What’s happening?

Artist talk by Grace Browne, sharing insights into the creative process

Free lunch, including vegan & gluten-free options

A chance to gather, connect, and celebrate

All warmly welcome!

Date: Wednesday, March 5th

Time: 11.30am

Location: The Hidden Gardens

Come along to celebrate this beautiful addition to our space, created with community and creativity at its heart

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The Hidden Gardens Advisory Group is made up of people from all walks of life, who support and advise the work of the organisation. They meet regularly to discuss, feedback and offer their perspectives, which are shared with the trustees and the staff team.

Members are invited to around 4 meetings each year at the Gardens, and are expected to attend at least 2 meetings each year. The times of these meetings will vary to allow everyone to participate.

Membership of the Advisory Group is open to any person who is not an employee of The Hidden Gardens and who wishes to support its work.

We are particularly interested in applications from:

• People who use the Gardens
• People who live locally
• People who are or have been involved in our community activities
• People who have expertise in community gardening
• People who are members of local religious communities
• People who identify as disabled
• People who are involved in the arts and music
• People who work or run businesses locally
• Young people, aged between 18 and 25

The most important criteria is a desire to support The Hidden Gardens in its vision of a society where people live, play, learn, participate and celebrate together in peace.

The steps to becoming an Advisory Group member are:

1. Express interest by email to amanda@thehiddengardens.org.uk 
2. Complete a simple application form
3. Await notification that your application has been approved by the Board

Would you like the opportunity to develop your experience in the community sector and support a flourishing greenspace group?

We’re looking for 4 or 5 new people to join The Hidden Gardens Trust Board of Trustees!

The Trust exists primarily to make a difference in people’s lives by improving the wellbeing of the community and to benefit the environment and wildlife. It works to support the neighbourhoods of East Pollokshields and Govanhill by empowering local people. We offer a safe and welcoming space immersed in nature in which people of all ages, abilities and walks of life can come together to learn, create, participate, connect with each other and with nature.

In the last 22 years we have grown and developed from an environmental art installation into a biodiversity conscious greenspace that is committed to wellness, peace, inclusion and environmental sustainability. 

The facilities are also available to hire for large or intimate community, private and public events.

The Hidden Gardens is operated by the Hidden Gardens Trust, a registered Scottish charity. The Trust has launched a new strategic plan (2025 – 2030) and seeks 4 or 5 new trustees to join.

In this role, you and the other trustees will help shape the strategic direction, sustainability and governance of the organisation, supporting the fantastic staff team to deliver a variety of environmental, social and wellbeing opportunities to meet the needs of the community and of nature. 

We are particularly keen to recruit trustees from the communities that the Gardens serves.

Priority Criteria, candidates must have at least one of the following criteria to apply:

• Fundraising
• Enterprise
• Business management and strategy 
• Corporate networking
• Horticulture, biodiversity or environmental regeneration

Time commitment

We hope that the time you give to the Gardens will be rewarding to you. Importantly, you need to work around your life, work and other commitments. We meet five times a year, in the evenings, (currently on Tuesdays) and ask that you can attend at least four of these meetings. We also encourage you to participate in sub groups, to support specific projects or strategic priorities.

Please get in touch if you would like to ask any questions, or have a chat about this opportunity & how it could work for you.

Contact
Chief Executive, Amanda, at amanda@thehiddengardens.org.uk   

Apply
If you would like to apply, please read the trustee information & send a C.V and a brief covering letter to Amanda, explaining why you are interested and what you can offer.

Deadline to apply: rolling

More Information: Visit the website (and other social media platforms) to find out more about the wide-ranging work of the Hidden Gardens. https://www.thehiddengardens.org.uk  

Contact: amanda@thehiddengardens.org.uk   

Some changes are happening in the wildlife area of the gardens. These works will mean that there is no access to this part of the garden for a period of time.

Apologies, it will only be for a few weeks. Thanks for your understanding.

The new works will increase the number of accessible growing beds for edible plants, as well as establishing ways to capture rainwater and creating closed loop systems for recycling garden waste. The funds will also pay for new decking for level access to a new indoor learning and workshop space, ensuring that every member of our community can participate.

These are all new resources where people can learn skills around establishing and caring for food crops, whilst also caring for nature.

Once completed, this part of the garden will host new opportunities to interact with nature, food growing and community. With initiatives showcasing how green spaces enhance our wellbeing, as well as community and climate resilience.

A huge thanks to Glasgow City Council (and the Scottish Government) for supporting this essential work

My Journey at The Hidden Gardens

I began my journey at The Hidden Gardens as a Garden Assistant and have had the opportunity to take on the role of Head Gardener since 2019. My academic background in zoology, combined with my subsequent work in conservation and ecology, has been central to shaping my approach to gardening and environmental management. The Hidden Gardens is a significant urban green space for local biodiversity, as Head Gardener it’s my role to see the whole picture of the different environments within the space.

I have a keen interest in plant biology, allotment and food growing. I am particularly fascinated by the interactions between horticultural practices and biodiversity. After studying horticulture, I integrated these insights into my work at The Hidden Gardens, where I’ve created a multi-purpose urban greenspace designed to nourish both the local community and the surrounding ecosystem. My goal has always been to develop a garden that not only feeds the soul but also nurtures local biodiversity.

Sustainable Horticulture and Practices at The Hidden Gardens

Here in the gardens I prioritise sustainable practices. I minimize the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, opting instead for integrated pest management and biological control methods. We compost garden waste on-site and harvest rainwater to reduce our environmental impact. The planting schemes reflect these sustainable practices, with plants grouped according to their common habitat needs.

At The Hidden Gardens, we are continually experimenting and learning, always striving to create an environment that balances aesthetic value with ecological health. I’ve introduced a variety of approaches to enhance biodiversity, including changing lawn management to feature longer grass areas, fewer cuts throughout the year, and the integration of low-growing meadow plants that can tolerate regular mowing. This ensures that this vital greenspace remains both beautiful and functional.

I hope you enjoy your time in The Hidden Gardens as much as I do!

The power of citizen science for championing biodiversity

The Hidden Gardens are an important oasis of green in the north side of the south of Glasgow, and with the pollinator friendly planting we see lots of birds, insects and other animals visiting throughout the year. In 2024 The Hidden Gardens has been working on ways where every visitor to the gardens can be part of our efforts to capture the ever changing variety of wildlife which move through the space.

Recording data and sharing it with the wider community of researchers, scientists and policy makers is called citizen science. As part of this effort we have been using iNaturalist, a user-friendly app and online platform designed to help people document the living organisms they encounter. It’s been a busy year and you can see some of the data we’ve collected:

In iNaturalist anyone can contribute to a growing global database of biodiversity observations by taking photos or recording sounds of plants, animals, fungi, and other life forms. The platform utilizes advanced image recognition technology and the expertise of a vibrant community to help identify species and verify observations.

Why Citizen Science Matters

Citizen science, the practice of public participation and collaboration in scientific research, is revolutionizing the way we understand our world. Here’s why it’s so important:

1. Bridging the Gap Between Science and Society

Citizen science projects like iNaturalist bridge the gap between professional scientists and the general public. By involving non-experts in data collection and analysis, these projects demystify science and make it more accessible. This democratization of science fosters a greater appreciation for scientific inquiry and its role in society.

2. Scaling Up Research Efforts

Professional scientists can’t be everywhere at once. Citizen scientists, however, can be. By harnessing the power of thousands of volunteers, projects like iNaturalist can gather data on a scale that would be impossible for individual researchers or small teams to achieve. This vast pool of observations helps scientists track changes in biodiversity, monitor species distributions, and identify environmental trends.

3. Enhancing Environmental Awareness

Participating in citizen science fosters a deeper connection to nature. As individuals observe and document their local ecosystems, they become more aware of the biodiversity around them and the importance of conservation. This heightened awareness can inspire positive environmental actions and advocacy within communities.

4. Contributing to Real-World Impact

The data collected through iNaturalist isn’t just for fun—it’s used by scientists, conservationists, and policymakers to make informed decisions. From tracking the spread of invasive species to monitoring the effects of climate change, the contributions of citizen scientists provide critical insights that drive conservation efforts and policy decisions.

iNaturalist, a citizen science platform that empowers people to observe, document, and share their encounters with biodiversity. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or a curious beginner, iNaturalist opens up a world of discovery and learning right at your fingertips.

How to Get Started with iNaturalist

Getting involved with iNaturalist is easy and rewarding. Download the app on your mobile device, create an account, and start exploring. Take photos of any organisms you encounter, upload them to the app, and join a global community of nature enthusiasts. Every observation you make contributes to a greater understanding of our planet’s biodiversity. Tag your location to The Hidden Gardens to be included in our data for this beautiful space!

iNaturalist and citizen science initiatives are transforming the way we engage with the natural world. By empowering individuals to contribute to scientific research, these platforms foster a collaborative spirit and a collective effort towards understanding and preserving biodiversity. So, whether you’re documenting the wildlife in your backyard or exploring distant ecosystems, remember that every observation matters. Embrace the adventure, and join the citizen science movement with iNaturalist today!