F.O.G.S.

The guest speaker welcomed by President Alan Cairns to Forfar Rotary this week was Eleanor Gledhill. Her subject was FOGS and it turned out to be nothing to do with the weather but about Forfar Open Garden Scheme and the project to create a theroputic 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.

The site needed a lot of ground clearance work and Laird Bros. took away six lorry loads of tree roots and other waste at no cost. A garden shed has been donated by Stewarts of Padanaram and the large green house was kindly donated by Cynthia Stent.

Raised beds are to be constructed and supports for them have beed donated by Ritchies of Whitehills and Mark Guild has provided paving slabs for 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 lead for Forfar Rotary Gordon Peterkin remarked “a pane worth the effort.”

More work has yet to follow with the provision of a meeting room, toilets and some kind of a coffe shop. So, Forfar Rotary has pledged to give further assistance and volunteers will continue to provide some muscle with drystane dyking.

Vote of thanks was by Bill Reid who complimented Eleanor on her vision in and the progress so far in providing a resource to encourage and rehabilitate those in need of the services that this venture provides.