Centre expands its outdoor community
Essential groundworks are almost complete on site
The walls of the Dunblane Centre have nurtured a beating heart for the community since it opened its doors in 2004.
Now that life and soul is expanding outdoors thanks to an imaginative new outdoor area.
The majority of the funding for the £1.6 million centre came originally from the Stirling Observer Dunblane Help Fund, which ultimately gathered more than £2million of the total £5million raised for the families and the community in the aftermath of the Dunblane Tragedy in 1996.
Its presence quietly pays tribute to the 17 souls lost on March 13, 1996, with positivity and progression very much part of its ethos.
That essence will now be visible thanks to the outdoor area.
Centre trustee Stewart Prodger said: “This first step for regenerating the Centre’s outside area became possible thanks to grants or help from Forth Valley and Lomond Leader, Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environmental Trust, Action Earth, Central Scotland Green Network Trust, Round Table and our neighbours Scottish Water.
“Essential groundworks, like levelling, fencing, and woodland paths creation are almost complete, the mini orchard is already bearing fruit and several structures like allotment beds, an education shack and even a willow dome have now been installed.”
But the project is even more ambitious than just renovations.
The Centre will host the first ever Sparklify Zone, brainchild of Little Earthlings creator SandraRose Gunn, and cousin Siobhan Hencher, an instructor at the centre.
Siobhan said: “Right now, we have a fantastic infrastructure in place but now we need support and involvement from the local community to add the colour and the vibrancy to help us bring these spaces to life for everyone to enjoy.
“In particular, we are looking for donations to help us source bigger items like a wishing well, outdoor furniture, an outdoor xylophone for our sensory garden, loads of solar lighting and a good sized metal gate to make the area even safer.
“We’ll also be holding creative workshops to produce many unique decorative items for areas like the seasonal path, enchanted wood or sensory garden.
“Artists, woodwork or landscaping volunteers would be very welcome, and even things like wooden cable drums, stainless steel washing machine drums and old wooden barrels would be great for us to upcycle into furniture pieces.”
Stewart added: “The Centre, its garden and the Sparklify concept have a lot in common - open to all ages, but with young people at the heart.
“We want to create something for anyone to get involved with, and then enjoy for years to come.”
Contact the Centre at (01786) 824224 or via the Observer on (01786) 459417.