PICTURES: 'Outstanding' rating for Gairloch Sitooterie Wildlife Observation Garden attraction in Wester Ross from It's Your Neighbourhood assessor
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AN "outstanding" Wester Ross attraction created from wasteland thanks to the hard work and ongoing commitment of the local community has played its part easing fears during the coronavirus crisis.
The Gairloch Sitooterie Wildlife Observation Garden near the harbour has been given the enviable top rating in the It's Your Neighbourhood awards, part of the Keep Scotland Beautiful campaign.
The success of the project, centring on a coastal strip of land converted from a rough patch of three-metre high whins into a floral paradise, has previously been flagged as a template others could follow.
Assessor John MacLennan recounted acomment from one visitor who said: "It looks so beautiful it takes my mind off everything else taking place in 2021".
Assessment was via a 'mystery' visit, Zoom chats and recomendations from the community.
Mr MacLennan concluded: "The excellence of the Sitooterie is clear for all to see!It is a leading example of how a community can adopt a piece of waste ground and turn it around to be an area of outstanding beauty."
Donations of boats, planters and seating show community support, his report says.
The transformation has made it a year-round garden of colour that is a local highlight "attracting visitors to shop and stay".
Widespread community involvement - from primary pupils planting bulbs to men's shed maintenance and creation of all-access areas - is evident, it says.
It is hailed "a plantsman's paradise".
One European visitor said: “It is simply amazing how a small spark of an idea can change an unsightly row of overly large thorny bushes to a major tourist attraction and a place of beauty for everyone."
Even in the dark weeks around Christmas there are twinkling lights that cheer the community. Perhaps one can ask why so few other groups think about this - providing ‘lights’ for December and seeing out the Auld Year.
Organiser David Carruthers and team are credited with creating something "unique".
The report also noted the use of winter lights in the area to cheer the long nights – again flagged an example more could follow.
Mr Carruthers said: "This is the highest accolade the Sitooterie garden can achieve and it is a tribute to the many loyal and dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard in the garden.A stunning 360-degree photographic tour of the garden was created by Soren Moore and I am sure that this played a major part in influencing the assessor's decision.
"Most of all, I would like to thank stalwart team members Paul and Fran Harvey who planned this year's superb garden design and have provided such a major contribution to this year's award."
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