Sunken Gardens facelift finished

A MUCH-loved feature at Grant Park has received a facelift, thanks to the hard work and dedication of local volunteers.

The water fountains at the Sunken Gardens were switched back on - for the first time since last summer- by young gardener, Fraser Murray, in time for the arrival of thousands of visitors to the ‘Piping Hot Forres’ European Pipe Band Championship event.

Bill and Lorraine Budge who donated a new water bowser to Forres in Bloom on behalf of The Budge Trust praised the efforts of everyone involved. The bowser will assist the voluntary group to maintain floral displays and baskets around the town. The watering was previously carried out by council workers, but the budget was cut by the local authority last year.

"Forres is very unique," said Bill. "There are few towns which can muster volunteers in the numbers which this place can, and achieve so much for the common good.

"To all the people involved in Forres in Bloom, we congratulate you on the marvellous team effort you have established to make Forres the most beautiful town in the north of Scotland, if not the whole country!"

Bill explained that the Sunken Gardens were built on the former site of Forres House, which, alongside Grant Park, was donated to the people of Forres by Sir Alexander Grant.

Lady Laing, wife of Sir Alexander Grant’s grandson, the late Lord Hector Laing, and his son Mark and his wife Marion, were also at the ceremony. A tree has been planted in the Sunken Gardens by a plaque dedicated to his memory. Mark also donated the plants in the flower beds.

James ‘Flicker’ Duncan of Forres Heritage Trust organised the repair of the Sunken Garden’s centrepiece - the water fountains.

"The pumps weren’t working properly, they were leaking and there were water level problems as a result," he said.

"We dug out the old walls and rebuilt the whole thing from scratch.

"I would like to thank Hamish, Gareth, Derek, Jean, George, Graham, Malcolm, Nigel and everyone else who helped us for their efforts."

Flicker and his team spent hundreds of hours on the project since they started in March.

"It was a real team effort," said Jackie Murray who was assisted by Kieran O’Driscoll in charge of all plants and gardening.

"I would have hated to have seen it left unattended but it looks fantastic now.

"I’ve spoken to a lot of passers-by who have said "great work" and "what a nice town".

"I feel that sometimes the locals take what we have here for granted because we’ve had it so nice for so long!"