An Aberdeen community was celebrating a decade in bloom yesterday with the planting of the 90,000th bulb in a 10-year campaign to brighten up the area.
Children from Skene Square, Gilcomstoun and Mile End primary schools, as well as residents of sheltered housing have planted thousands of bulbs across Midstocket and Rosemount since the inception of the programme.
The drive was started by local councillor Bill Cormie to bring brightness back into his ward.
Mr Cormie’s efforts were praised in the Scottish Parliament in 2013 when he planted the 55,000th bulb of the project.
Over the decade, it is thought the long-standing councillor has teamed up with a total of 650 school children to take the number of bulbs planted up to the 90,000 mark.
The Port Elphinstone-born member said that the scheme allowed children from the city to “get their hands dirty” and learn about growing.
He said: “This is an excellent opportunity for kids to learn about nature and get their hands dirty in the process. It allows them to add something to their local community that everyone can benefit from.
“It’s a great way of getting people active and those who get involved can take pride in their work as they see these plants grow and bloom over the coming months.
“I’m delighted to have got so many people to join in and make this city a more beautiful place. We have planted the 90,000th bulb of this project and I hope that we can get past 100,000 soon.”
Mr Cormie added that his own rural background was quite a departure from some of the children in his ward.
He said: “Many of the children in my ward have grown up in flats with no gardens so they are just amazed by things like worms and grass and dirt. The wee ones especially love getting mucky.
“I deliberately chose not to plant them in Westburn or Victoria park because they’ve got plenty of flowers as it is. I wanted to give areas that made don’t get much attention a bit of a look in.
“It’s been a fantastic success, it was just the kids and teachers to start with but no we have parents, grandparents and folk from sheltered housing taking an interest.
“It’s great seeing their faces when they go back in the spring to see what they’ve planted.”