Rhona knits her protest over fracking
Granny makes a unique point
A Strathaven granny has come up with a creative way to protest over plans for fracking – as a group of pals took to knitting outside Holyrood.
Rhona MacLeod and friends grabbed their knitting needles as they headed for the Scottish Parliament last week.
The ‘Knitting Grannies Against Unconventional Gas’ group made beanies outside Scotland’s political home as a unique form of protest.
Completed hats will be presented to the Neo-Natal Unit at NHS Forth Valley – near a potential fracking site.
Rhona hopes the protest will highlight the Scottish Government’s current public consultation on Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction.
The group were also joined on the day by two new members – both who learned knitting as they went.
Rhona told the News that smartphones were going off all around them – with a few MSPs joining the cause.
“We were very fortunate that it was a sunny day and we had people stop for pictures with us and to find out what we were doing.
“There was four of us grannies there. We can hope for a few more next time!”
Rhona was inspired to get involved with protesting fracking after discovering the power of the internet while living in Australia.
When she moved back to her home town in 2013 she kept up the fight and started organising meetings with fellow angry locals before latterly forming the South Lanarkshire Against Unconventional Gas group.
After taking a back seat with the group, she now focuses on coming up with creative protests ideas, including writing songs and the knitting nans.
“When I lived in Australia I went on social media and found out about some of the terrible things happening,” Rhona added.
“I got talking to different people and, as I had lived in the central belt of Scotland, I found out more about issues there.
“I could see the problems all the way from Australia.
“When I moved back I wanted to do more and started forming groups. Social media really helped with that.”
Rhona encourages people to sign up to back her cause at stopfracking. scot – and also to donate to the hospital if possible.
“For those who’re unable to attend we welcome donations of completed beanies,” she said.
“People can make contact with me to make arrangements for uplift or posting.”