Abernethy is Blooming Marvellous!

The team at Branston’s Scotland site have given their full-on green-fingered support for this summer’s Abernethy in Bloom initiative.

As well as regular weeding, tidying and watering around the village throughout the season, the Branston volunteers played a big part in the Horse Cart refurbishment project in which the Abernethy in Bloom team transformed a dilapidated wooden cart into a feature planter for the village. The horse cart was donated by local farmer Douglas Sinclair, after he rescued it from a field where it had languished for many years.

The cart was in a sorry state but the project team volunteers worked on it over several weeks, repairing and renovating, to bring it back to its former glory. After a final coat of paint the cart was moved into its new location and planted up with a selection of vibrant summer blooms. The flower-filled cart now has pride of place at the entrance to the Branston site.

George Elder, Branston site manager, said: “Our volunteers have been working hard throughout the season supporting the Abernethy in Bloom team. It’s not just planting, there’s all the weeding, maintenance and watering needed to keep the plants in good health. It gives us a real sense of satisfaction to have played a part in the village looking so good and we hope that all the community will enjoy it.”  

Ian Lamont, secretary of the Abernethy in Bloom group said: “Since the formation of Abernethy in Bloom in 2015, support from Branston, not only financial but all the help from their staff, has enabled Abernethy in Bloom to achieve a bright and colourful environment throughout the village. With this combined effort, in 2016 the village received a Silver Gilt and Best Newcomer Award from ‘Pride in Perthshire’.

“Now in 2018, following a number of improvement projects, the village is ready for entry to ‘Pride In Perthshire’ and ‘Beautiful Scotland’ 2018 where we hope to improve on our previous success. We appreciate all the help we receive from the Branston team and we hope that it will continue to keep our village blooming for the enjoyment of the Abernethy community.”