Milngavie will be in full bloom next spring thanks to £5,500 of funding from Awards for All Scotland which will be used to build a community garden in the town centre.

The Council has been working in partnership with community group Milngavie in Bloom to secure the grant as part of the Civic Pride Initiative.

Milngavie in Bloom identified a suitable area for development and thanks to the Council’s sponsorship a landscape designer Fiona Robertson prepared plans for the garden. The work is now being carried out by Gregg McIntosh of Oakburn Gardens and Trees. He will carry out the landscaping feature work including slabbing, wall construction and soil reinstatement.

The garden will then be brought to life by community groups like Milngavie in Bloom, Scouts, Boys Brigade, Milngavie Youth Café and Park Road Sheltered Housing Complex.

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Vice Convener of the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor John Dempsey, said: "The work carried out by Milngavie in Bloom has really enhanced the town centre over recent years; the volunteers have brought a lot of colour into the town, making it an attractive place to live and visit.

"Now it will look even better with the introduction of this new community garden. I am delighted the Council was able to support the group to make their funding application which will result in a beautiful new feature in the town centre. This is a great opportunity for local community groups to get together to create a garden everyone can be proud of."

Milngavie in Bloom is a charity comprised entirely of volunteers who are passionate about improving the natural environment and civic pride in Milngavie through planting and litter clearance, bringing colour to the town.

Spokesperson for Milngavie in Bloom, Heather Lindsay, said: "We are delighted with the support we have received from the Council over this project. We are also grateful to the Council gardeners, for the work they have done clearing the shrubs ready for the new work to begin."

Earlier this year the group was awarded the Beautiful Scotland New Entrant Trophy and was presented with a beautiful Edinburgh Crystal Rose bowl. They were also awarded the Silver Medal in the Large Town category and the rose bowl and certificates are currently displayed in Black & Lizars window in Main Street.

Now with the creation of the new community garden, the group can greater enhance the town with plants and flowers, for the benefit of residents and visitors.

(GK)