TRANSFORMING 'SLUMS' TO BEAUTIFUL GARDENS
A Forfar neighbourhood, described two years ago as "the slums of Forfar", is waiting with bated breath for the results of the Beautiful Scotland campaign after judges visited their community garden last month.
The day of judgement for members of the LRP Action Group saw a group of judges visit the Lordburn Community Garden as part of their quest to discover which communities have been most successful in improving the attractiveness, cleanliness and sustainability of their area.
The winning communities will be presented with their awards at a ceremony in Glenrothes on Wednesday 22.
The arrival of the judges is testament to two years of hard work by members of the LRP Action Group which has instilled a sense of community spirit in an area once dogged by anti-social behaviour.
Members, led by Ann Hattersley, were not afraid to "roll up their sleeves" to carry out litter picks, clean stairwells and tackle Angus Council to provide more bins in an attempt to clean up the area.
Slums
The state of some stairwells prompted a comment at a meeting of Forfar Community Council that the area was "the slums of Forfar" as the habits of some tenants were brought into question.
However, since then the group has worked hard as a team to integrate with the community, and their efforts are paying off.
Speaking after the judges visited the area, Ann said the group was doing very well and had made a garden for residents.
She said : "We've made a wee garden at the back of the first block of flats in Lordburn.
"It has all been laid out with plants, now we just need to get the council to clear other areas as people have to wade through weeds to put their washing out.
"We have started doing the Loons Lottery and are averaging 50 a week selling tickets in Lordburn, Pitreuchie and Restenneth. We have a lot of things earmarked to buy and have taken elderly residents to the golf club for lunch on two occasions and have given flowers to those who can't manage.
"We've bought tennis racquets, Frisbees and have basketball stands for the kids as well as three sets of tables and chairs. We also have notice boards for the buildings.
"We're trying to give a bit of pride in the area. There have been seven babies born in the area and one resident has been making crochet blankets as gifts.
"We also decorated a stairwell for a couple who were getting married and they were over the moon.
"The Beautiful Scotland judges came and took a lot of photographs of the garden. We've gone from being "the slums of Forfar" to being judged for "Beautiful Scotland" in two years. It is very positive but it has been a lot of work."
The LRP Action Group has come a long way since forming in 2008 after an appraisal of the area.
Newsletters
They hold regular meetings, have campaigned for a community meeting place and send out regular newsletters.
They have also held a number of fund-raisers and are hoping to attract younger members.
They are also planning a bingo tea in the run up to Christmas to raise funds for the children in the area.
Twenty-one highly experienced Beautiful Scotland judges travelled the length and breadth of the country for two weeks in August to discover which communities have been most successful in improving their area.
They were judged on horticultural achievement, sustainable development and biodiversity initiatives, as well as environmental quality and community involvement.
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Weather for Forfar
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
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