Nicola digs newgarden
Sturgeon praises community garden project
Scotland’s First Minister visited Rutherglen last week, and gave her backing to a community garden group.
Nicola Sturgeon was the first official to break ground at Grow 73’s new site at Overtoun Park, which will see the green fingered locals convert former bowling greens into a new community garden for residents to enjoy.
She was helped by local pupil Otis Calikes, while Ms Sturgeon used the visit to throw support behind Clare Haughey, the Rutherglen candidate for the SNP in next month’s election.
She said: “It was an honour to be the first to break the ground at the new community garden which will be a fantastic addition to the local area.
“I’m looking forward to coming back shortly to see how the project has developed.”
A community garden project in Rutherglen has been given the seal of approval from Scotland’s First Minister when she visited the area last week.
Nicola Sturgeon was in the Royal Burgh as campaigning kicked off for the Scottish Parliament elections on May 6.
As well as lending her support to the SNP’s local candidate Clare Haughey, who is aiming to defend the seat she won five years ago, Ms Sturgeon also praised the work of Grow 73.
She broke the ground at the ecofriendly group’s new site in Overtoun Park, which will see three former bowling greens transformed into a community garden.
She said: “Clare Haughey can’t speak highly enough about the volunteers at Grow 73 who have been bringing extra colour to Rutherglen for years now.
“So I’m delighted that thanks to the SNP Government’s Community Empowerment Act the group have managed to secure this new site.
“It was an honour to be the first to break the ground at the new community garden which will be a fantastic addition to the local area. I’m looking forward to coming back shortly to see how the project has developed.”
The First Minister was joined by local school pupil Otis Calikes to plant a pollinator friendly flower on the garden grounds.
Ms Haughey added: “I was delighted to be joined by the First Minister to launch my re-election campaign in Overtoun Park. It was a pleasure, as always, to also meet up with Grow 73 who do brilliant community work in Rutherglen.
“On the day of Nicola Sturgeon’s visit, she announced the SNP’s first key manifesto pledge to deliver 100,000 new homes – at least 70 percent of which will be for social rent – in the next decade.
“These plans will support 14,000 jobs a year and it will generate investment of £16 billion. This will be the largest home building and investment programme since devolution – providing a major economic stimulus after the pandemic.”
The visit came in a week that Ms Sturgeon’s former political ally, Alex Salmond, announced he was launching a new pro independence party that will put forward candidates on the regional list in May.
The Alba Party have yet to announce any candidates standing for the Glasgow list, which covers Rutherglen.