PICTURES: Alness garden of remembrance opened for locals with donations invited for Poppyscotland as coronavirus takes toll on traditional parades
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A GARDEN of Remembrance has been officially opened to celebrate the lives of the people of Alness.
Based in the front garden of Alness Heritage Centre, the initiative was officially opened by the Lord Lieutenant Joanie Whiteford, and a short ceremony was conducted by the Rev Robert Adair.
Organiser Una McIntosh said it was a meeting of three people with an interest in Poppyscotland who came up with the idea of having a memorial garden.
Mrs McIntosh said: "This year, when people are not able to meet as normal, we decided that an area to the front of Alness Heritage Centre could be opened as a memorial garden.
"It is not only for those who have died at war, we are also keen for people to come and lay a wooden cross in memory of a loved one.
"We came up with the idea after Ian and Nancy Burnett, who recently moved to the area from Inverness, were – as I was – heavily involved with Poppyscotland. As every other charity donations may be lower than normal and we wanted to do something to help."
Mrs McIntosh continued: "We have made a wonderful decoration in the heritage centre with a waterfall of poppies, and we were kindly donated some plaques that are also in the window."
Anyone who would like to buy a cross, can pay a donation of at least £2 in the heritage centre shop, and place it in the garden. All proceeds are going to the Poppy Scotland Appeal.
