Volunteers working hard to ensure town looks its best
It has been a busy few months for volunteers from awardwinning environmental group Coupar Angus Pride of Place (PoP).
The baskets and tubs in the east Perthshire town, planted and maintained by the volunteers, are in full bloom and fundraising efforts to support the group’s work are ongoing.
Jeff Brewer, chair of PoP, said: “The orders for the plants had to be submitted by the end of November last year.
“Although red, white and blue was the preferred choice of many areas, Pride of Place voted for an attempt to replicate the award-winning baskets of 2013, the year of our first Britain in Bloom Gold Medal and Best in Category for the whole of Britain.
“Despite the vagaries and lateness of our plug plants arriving in three different lots and different stages of growth, the care taken of the plugs by Anne Easson and the skills of the Pride of Place workers in potting on and planting the tubs and the baskets, resulted in the plants going out on display right on time in June.
“Spare plants were available at the Pride of Place plant sale at the end of May and also the following week at the Jubilee celebrations on the High Street and are now adorning many a garden in Coupar Angus and the surrounding area.
“Architects of the 2013 Gold Medal, Bill Ronald and Iain Bentley, and PoP’s then chair Rona McKinnon, have given their approval of the planters and they have often been described as stunning by people who have commented on them to me.”
Jeff continued: “We still have plans for the rest of this year, including installing two new benches for the many users of Larghan Park, assisting some of our school children to plant Jubilee Trees in the community woodland, and celebrating a fir tree planted in the woodland by Pride of Place which is registered on the National Register for The Queens Green Canopy Jubilee Scheme and is the first fir in the woodland.
“We are also keen to increase our volunteer numbers and would like people to get in touch even if they can just help out temporarily on specific projects such as looking after a nominated planter or plot close to them, or lending their skills when needed, or joining the regular work parties.”
PoP volunteers also ran the Coupar Angus Re-Use Shop until Friday last week, with all funds raised being used to benefit of Coupar Angus and its residents.
Jeff said: “We are always supported by the people of Coupar Angus and the donations to and support of the shop this time has been no exception.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to all the PoP volunteers and everyone in the town who supports us in any shape or form, for helping us keeping the town beautiful, it is much appreciated.”
Anyone who is interested in registering their interest as a volunteer or discussing it further should contact Jeff by sending an email to couparangusprideofplace@gmail. com.
I would like to say a huge thank you to all the PoP volunteers and everyone in the town who supports us in any shape or form. It is much appreciated Jeff Brewer, chair, PoP