Fyrish landmark inspires monumental lockdown challenge for Alness man
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A PROJECT manager used to being busy all day, every day set himself a monumental challenge when the coronavirus lockdown was imposed.
Peter Baikie got the idea for replicating the landmark Fyrish monument he has walked to countless times over the past 50 years after being inspired by a decorative wall he saw at the Kelpies attraction, near Falkirk.
The resulting 22m-long, two-metre-high gabion wall he has completed in his Alness garden has become an internet sensation, racking up thousands of likes and hundreds of complimentary comments.
It was a true labour of love for Mr Baikie who works in the construction industry but was attemtping his first ever gabion structure.
He said: "It was just an idea I came up with and I wasn't sure if it would look the part. I mentioned on a couple of local Facebook sites I'm involved in that I was doing it as a lockdown project but was ready to say no more about it if it didn't work out!"
He said: "When you are used to working every day, all day having a project on the go at a time like this is definitely good."
He started the monument section of the wall the day lockdown was imposed in March after first taking measurements at the imposing Easter Ross landmark and then attempting to scale it down to size on his computer.
He said: "It should have been 2.5m high to be true to scale, but that was going to be a little too high for a garden wall." That section alone makes up almost 10 metres of the wall, which was put in place stone by stone from a 50 tonne delivery.
Looking back on his efforts, he said: "I have built various stone walls before, but never used gabion baskets. That's a whole new experience. They are tricky to get right. They are normally used as retaining walls and not free-standing or aesthetically pleasing."
He said: "When I went to see the Kelpies, I thought, I'll build one of them, but I'll put Fyrish in mine – how hard can it be? Bloody hard is the answer, But I guess it worked."
He said initially both his wife and father were sceptical but that they were both "mighty impressed" with the end result.
Story or picture to share? Have you pursued a special project during lockdown? Email hector.mackenzie@hnmedia.co.uk
