An Aberdeenshire men’s shed group is in line to receive almost £5,000 of council funding to help with its aim of creating a new allotment project with 20 plots.
The Inverurie Men’s Shed, which has members from all throughout the local community and beyond, was forced to give up its gardening and horticultural efforts at its current site just off Harlaw road after it was repeatedly targeted by vandals.
There were incidents throughout 2019, with hanging baskets emptied, plants trampled and the group’s polytunnel slashed beyond repair.
Now, the men are currently planning a move to a new, larger site at a field near Old Port Road.
The total cost of the project has been estimated at about £25,000, but Aberdeenshire councillors have now been recommended to give the group £4,915.60 towards the initiative.
The money would come from the Garioch Area Strategic Fund.
A report to go before councillors at a meeting next week said Inverurie is in dire need of allotments as there are currently only three plots for the entire community.
Leith Robertson, one of the members of the Inverurie Men’s Shed, said: “We’ve not had a proper facility for two years now because of vandalism and there are a lot of people who have expressed an eagerness to get it up and running again.