Project details

Can an eco-friendly building project involve an entire community and make a difference to the local environment? YES!

This aim of these two fantastic projects was to build greenhouses almost entirely of 2 litre plastic drinks bottles.

The first CEI greenhouse was built in Muirkirk in 2005... and the second in New Cumnock in 2009!

Muirkirk's Greenhouse

Starting in November 2004, the children of Muirkirk Primary School and members of Muirkirk Enterprise Group were set the challenge of collecting over 1500 plastic bottles to build an eco-friendly greenhouse that could be used by the primary school gardening club.

The level of enthusiasm for the project was incredible and by February 2005 the community had collected more than enough bottles to enable construction to begin.

To prepare the plastic bottle “building blocks”, two volunteering evenings were held in the local community hall. Volunteers were set the task of preparing the bottles by cutting the bottoms off.

A wooden greenhouse frame was constructed by volunteers and then the real work was done by the children of Muirkirk primary school who spent a day stacking the bottles and inserting them into the frame.

The greenhouse was officially opened by Robin Harper, MSP, on Wednesday 13th April. A superb day for the whole community, a staggering 200 people turned out to witness the grand opening.

Project sponsors

CSV Action Earth

Co-op Community Dividend Fund

New Cumnock's Greenhouse

In December 2008 the community in New Cumnock started collecting their bottles, again around 2000 were needed...

New Cumnock Primary School and New Cumnock Nursery collected bottles and quickly managed to fill nine builders tonne-sacks!

The East Ayrshire Strategy for Youth Group and members of the local community then began preparing the bottles and the EASY group made the greenhouse frame...

The 6th March 2009 saw our big greenhouse building day, the local community, EASY group, New Cumnock Primary School Eco Committee and the New Cumnock Nursery School all came along to help...

Freightliner Group Ltd  also presented us a donation of £1000 during the morning!

Funded as part of the New Cumnock Community Wildlife Garden