IT’S ALL COMING UP ROSES
Garden project is a blooming success
A community gardening project is helping brighten up some green space.
Corseford Tenants and Residents Association ( TARA) decided a year ago to do something about the much-used, but dull, grey and vandalised underpass at Beith Road.
They received £1,100 funding from Johnstone TOA which they used to buy paint and materials to cover up the graffiti and replace it with a colourful mural.
Now they’ve been busy planting and tidying up the area around the underpass with the help of residents and young people from Renfrewshire Autism Project.
George MacDonald, secretary of Corseford (TARA), said: “This is part of an ongoing project to regenerate the whole underpass area.
“We received £250 from Action Matters which we used to buy lots of plants and materials.
“We also had a tonne of compost donated by Enva.
“As well as the plants, we’ve put in a lot of bulbs, which will come up in the spring.
“We want to make it look a bit more colourful. It’s close to Fordbank Primary, so lots of school pupils and nursery kids use the underpass.
“It’s been a great wee project and it’s brought lots of people together.
“When we’re there working, people are very complimentary.
“People have noticed a big difference.”
Resident Rhoda Willis has a child who attends the Renfrewshire Autism Project, which normally meet once a week for a coffee.
Lockdown restrictions put an end to that, so Rhoda suggested they get involved with the planting project.
Fiona Milne, project manager for the Renfrewshire Autism Project, which her son David attends, said they’ve been involved for over a month.
She said: “There have been amazing sensory benefits.
“We have five regular attendees from the group and, with support, they’ve been absolutely loving it.
“Gardening is a calm, quiet activity in a natural environment which provides an opportunity to follow instruction and work outdoors.
“Our group are in their late teens, early 20s and they’ve been quite isolated. This has helped them become part of the community.
“Buildings can be difficult for people with autism as they’ve got to conform. But, with this, they’re outside and letting nature take its course.
“They’ve all got their social space and it’s lovely to watch them all chatting away.”