PICTURES: Volunteers at Beauly Community Garden persevere despite poor weather
Poor weather during the current growing season has challenged volunteers at a Highland community garden.
But that has not deterred them from throwing open the garden gates at an open day for the public to view the results of their efforts and perseverance.
Beauly Community Garden, at a site off Croyard Drive, was initially set up as part of Beauly Cares which provides a range of activities and events for older members of the community.
PICTURES: Visitors admire Beauly Cares Community Garden
Overgrown plot in Beauly transformed into flourishing community garden
The site was once an overgrown plot but has now been transformed over the years into a garden flourishing with flowers and vegetables.
Volunteer Frances MacKenzie said this year had been challenging.
“It was a poor start to the growing season because of the weather, she said.
“Some things have not come on the way we thought they should have.
“But we have persevered.”
About 12 volunteers get together to garden on Wednesday afternoons but others go along at other times.
“We are always looking for volunteers,” Frances said.
“If anyone has a couple of hours a week to spare - whether they are a gardener or not - we would love to see them.”
The community gardeners also have plans for next year to install more raised beds to make the plot more accessible.
The gardeners have also been forging links with nursery children from Beauly Primary School.
During visits to the garden between April and June, the youngsters planted an onion and a sunflower each which they then took home.
The youngsters also helped with a new feature in the garden this year - a bike adorned with colourful floral displays which appropriately has coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Highland Cross duathlon which sees participants tackling a 50-mile route from Kintail to Beauly on foot and bike.
