The Methlick Community Garden Project has achieved first place in the adult section of the Grampian Opportunities first photography competition.

The community garden project was set up in 2005 and aims to develop the former quarry site at Methlick, Aberdeenshire as a community garden, to act as a resource for the local people, community groups and for people with learning disabilities.

Sonia Stephen, who entered the winning photograph, has asked that her prize of a digital camera is gifted to members of the Ellon Resource Centre.

Gerry McGuiness, one of the GO volunteers who led the competition, said: "The competition challenged people to send in photographs that captured the 'Spirit of Volunteering' and Sonia's generous gift takes this a step further."

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The prizes of digital cameras were sponsored by Bucksburn based Online Electronics and on hearing that the members of the Ellon Resource Centre were to benefit; Booth's of Inverurie donated a camera bag for the group.

The Acorn Centre in Inverurie proved to be an excellent base to display the photographs and GO recognised the volunteers involved in the Centre with a Certificate of Recognition. Alan Harrow, volunteer coordinator at the Centre, along with two of his team of volunteers accepted the certificate presented by GO volunteers.

"There was considerable interest in the display with a number of people expressing an interest in finding out more about volunteering. This has prompted us to take the display to other places, with plans now to hold an open day at the Inverurie office we share with the WRVS and follow this up with a display in the Living Rooms Café and Christian Centre in Inverbervie" said Linda Singer, Grampian Opportunities Development Worker.

(GK/JM)