'Outstanding' Gairloch Sitooterie garden transformation in Wester Ross hailed blooming marvellous by Keep Scotland Beautiful assessor
A Wester Ross community garden has achieved the rare accolade of being awarded a top national award for the third successive year.
Keep Scotland Beautiful has given its highest "Outstanding" award for 2022 to the Sitooterie Wildlife Observation Garden in Pier Road Gairloch, under their "It's Your Neighbourhood" scheme.
The Sitooterie began in 2015 when members of the local community funded the clearing of a small area amid the totally overgrown gorse which dominated the verge alongside Pier Road in Gairloch.
Since then it has grown arms and legs to become its current 206 metre garden length.
Visiting Keep Scotland Beautiful assessor, Wendy Murray said that the volunteers really do garden on the edge of the sea in the most stunning of locations. She praised how the Sitooterie is valued by both locals and visitors and was thrilled by a welcoming poster by local primary school pupils Hope Tippett and Emily McNeil.
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She also praised the Gairloch Sitooterie's weekly Facebook page with its over 1200 followers. and that Trip Advisor has received glowing 5 star reviews. Also recognised were the efforts by Gairloch High School students in their achievements in litter picking and garden maintenance in some challenging weather.
The Gardening Achievement Section of the report highlighted the excellent planning of the garden and its exceptional choice of plants. Huge praise was given to the team of volunteers who enabled such a stunning display this year.
Assessor Wendy Murray said: "The volunteers are to be commended for the way in which they have worked together to develop such a spectacular coastal garden at the very edge of the sea. They have worked in all kinds of challenging conditions to transform what was an area of dense scrubland into an area which brings enormous pleasure to both locals and visitors.
"Plant management is hugely impressive and provides a stunning example of what can be achieved in such an exposed location. I was also struck by attention to detail across all their activities. From maintenance of furniture and groundworks to signage and planters, everything was absolutely perfect.
"The group has clearly found a winning formula in terms of how to support each other as volunteers, connect with the wider community and work to make a difference to both people and the environment. Well done everybody."
Sitooterie Coordinator, David Carruthers said that he was delighted with the result, adding that it was a fitting tribute to the Sitooterie's dedicated and hard-working volunteers and financial supporters.
