Human sunflower plant to catch serial thief!
A serial plant thief has been warned to be on their guard after targeting one of Ayr’s newest restaurants.
Fed-up bosses at Tempura have seen pretty shrubbery nicked from outside their door four times in recent months. They’ve launched a quirky fightback with the aid of a giant human sunflower.
Tempura co-owner Brandon Van Rensburg and business partner, Mark Blake, are refusing to take the green fingered raids lying down.
Brandon, 36, said: “It’s been frustrating as it’s all very random. It could just be kids thinking they’re having a laugh, but that doesn’t make it any better.We’re two guys who are trying to invest in the top of the town and make this place a success. We’ve transformed the building and it’s looking great, so for someone to think they can repeatedly come along and do this is disappointing.”
Brandon and Mark are now laying series of “traps” to catch their flower pot fiend. Mark has even taken to a wacky disguise in a bid to blend in with the greenery.
Brandon laughed: “We had the idea to buy the costume and filmed a video which got a great reaction on our social channels.
“I suppose we’re just trying to turn a negative into a positive in some way.We were blown away the other day when a young lad called Harris came in with plants completely off his own back after seeing what had happened. Now that we’ve got our new traps in place this will be an end of it.”
Brandon, who was formerly head of openings at Buzzworks Holdings, has seen his Beresford
Terrace venture soar since taking the plunge with Mark in November.
He said: “We both worked together at Buzzworks and really wanted to go for this challenge. Many people thought we were mad doing it during a pandemic and we’ve only had customers inside for a few weeks because of the restrictions. But thankfully things are beginning to look up now and long may that continue.”
Ayr’s St John’s primary were the winners for the second year in a row at the South Ayrshire Euroquiz Heats.
The P6 competition took place online this year with the schools who took part being: Alloway, Ballantrae, Barassie, Heathfield, St John’s, St Ninian’s, Troon Primary and St Patrick’s, who were runners up.
Pupils had to answer questions on geography, history and general knowledge as well as complete listening and reading tasks in German, Spanish, Italian and French.
Languages Lead Jacqui Ferguson said:“Congratulations to everyone who took part and especially to our winning team, St John’s Primary, and good luck for the finals.”
The Scottish Educational Trust SEET has been running the quiz since 1993 and finals are usually held at the Scottish Parliament.
Residents across Ayrshire are being asked to sign up to Alzheimer Scotland’s Memory Walk this year to raise vital funds and awareness of dementia.
Scotland’s Memory Walk takes place on September 18 and 19 with participants choosing where they want to walk, with who and how far.
Ideal places to choose from nearby include the Dunure to Ayr Coastal Walk or Peden’s Cove on the River Ayr.
The Memory Walk is free of charge for everyone who takes part, although everyone is encouraged to raise as much as they can.
Dementia Advisor Karen Anderson, who is based at Ayr Dementia Resource Centre, said: “My role is fully funded through fundraised money and Scotland’s Memory Walk is one of the biggest fundraising events we have.
“Many participants have something in common; they are walking for someone they care about, a person living with dementia, a carer or in memory of a loved one.
Alzheimer Scotland’s mission to make sure nobody faces dementia alone.”