FOGS.

FOGS has nothing to do with the weather but about “Forfar Open Garden Scheme” and the project to create a theraputic garden at Lochside Road.

This will assist in the rehabilitation of people with physical and mental health problems and has been given the nod of approval by the towns doctors who recognise the need for such a facility.

Business's in the town have again been very supportive with companies giving much needed help as the site needed a lot of ground clearance work. and Laird Bros. Six lorry loads of tree roots and other waste at no cost. A garden shed has been donated as well as a large greenhouse. Raised beds have been constructed and paving slabs to create wheelchair suitable paths.

There is also a great need for manual work to be carried out and this was a role fulfilled by Forfar Rotarians. The construction of the greenhouse from the base to erecting the frame and then the fitting in place of all the 400 plus pieces of glass was as Forfar Rotarian Gordon Peterkin remarked “a pane worth the effort.”

Futher work undertaken by Rotarians over the winter was to rebuild a dry stane dyke which had fallen into disrepair. Next job tackled was to build all the decking in front of the cafe and toilet facilities while also making it wheelchair accessable.

The FOGS centre was officially opened by Jim McCall one of the presenters of TVs Beechgrove Garden with a good attendence by all interested parties and members of the public. Work is ongoing and Forfar Rotary have again been back this time to plant out the front of the garden with crocus corms donated by the club to enhance the view of the garden from the outside and should be a welcoming sight in the spring. The club will have a sign erected giving the reason for the planting of the purple crocuses.