HANDS UP FOR FARM’S MAGICAL MAKEOVER
Transformation is all thanks to project team
A community farm received its very own DIY SOS when a team of contractors swooped in and transformed it.
Just like the hit BBC One show hosted by Nick Knowles, the team organised by hub West Scotland, pulled together to upgrade anima l enclosures, build a hay shed and create new decking and equipment for the children’s play area at Lamont City Farm in Erskine.
Hub West Scotland, an organisation which is owned by both the public and private sectors, works with public bodies to design and construct community facilities like schools, health centres and leisure centres.
It is currently in charge of the Paisley Town Hall refurbishment and as part of its community work, it carries out a Helping Hands Initiative where it brings together contractors to offer work for free.
Angeline Robertson, hub West Scotland partnership director, explained: “Renfrewshire Council suggested Lamont City Farm as the project for Helping Hands.
“We visited the farm and asked them to create a wish list of things they would like done.
“We then sent this around our supply chain who each took ownership of a few items and went on site to provide their services.”
More than £ 38,000 of work has been carried out by the supply chain partners, including Kier Regional Building, which project managed the initiative.
The improvements include repairing the cracked concrete yard, installing new paths, carrying out essential upgrades on animal enclosures, building a hay shed and providing new decking and equipment for the children’s play area.
Yvonne Elliot, manager of the farm, said the improvements had made a huge different to all the staff, volunteers and animals.
She said: “It’s been an incredible week.
“The volunteers are really excited with the transformation of the farm.
“We’re really pleased the animals now have more comfortable homes and our volunteers and visitors will be able to enjoy the farm even more thanks to the many improvements.
“It’s been amazing and we can’t thank everyone enough.”
Established in 1977, the farm remains a popular local attraction with around 10,000 visitors annually.
Neil Bibby MSP for West of Scotland, went to see the work that was carried out.
He said: “The hub West Scotland Helping Hands Initiative is a fantastic way to support facilities like Lamont City Farm.
“Thanks to the improvement works, the local community can continue to enjoy the services the farm has to offer.”
Iain Marley, CEO of hub West Scotland added: “This year’s Helping Hands initiative is another stunning success thanks to the skill, hard graft and generosity of our fantastic supply chain partners and the hub West team.
“We are grateful to the council for nominating the farm and the opportunity for the hub West partners to come together and deliver such significant improvements to the benefit of farm and the wider community.
“Adding value to communities is at the heart of our purpose and the success and fun we enjoyed here creates a great incentive to continuing with that mission through the next Helping Hands project.”
P h i l M cDow e l l , operations director at Kier added: “We are proud to have project managed this important initiative.
“Ever yone in the supply chain has lent a huge helping hand with donations and carrying out repairs and upgrades.
“It’s very rewarding to see the impact this has made to the farm and the wider community.”