Ambitious plans to regenerate award-winning Perth garden grounds on the banks of the River Tay have taken a giant step forward.
Green fingered volunteers from “Beautiful Perth” have embarked on a phased programme to restore the sadly neglected Rodney Gardens to their former glory.
And they have been given a helping hand by Tayside groundworks specialists Kilmac.
Gordon Lindsay, chair of Beautiful Perth, welcomed the support offered by co-founder Athole McDonald and a band of Kilmac volunteers who answered an SOS on a wet and chilly day to clear an overgrown 600 square metre banking.
Gordon said: “Perth and Kinross Council Community Greenspace agreed we would take on the Rodney project. It is a huge task to redevelop formal gardens which used to be a real gem, and it will be again.
“We have secured vital support from the Place Based Investment Fund and the original plans for the gardens have been traced. They date back to the early 1990s.
“The local authority of the time had acquired the one-time General Accident site in 1983.
“It was once regarded as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ and contributed in no small way to Perth’s success in ‘Britain in Bloom.’
“The aim is to replicate it and hundreds of plants are going to be required.
“Our volunteers have been doing their best but there’s no way they could have tackled this dense part of the gardens, which form part of Riverside Park.
“Kilmac provided the expertise and equipment needed to clear what had become a jungle, and they have done an amazing job over three days. It is a game changer for us.
“Our team, with support from PKC Operations and Community Payback Service, uncovered the fabulous 1992 ‘Foxtrot’ sculpture by Fife-based David Annand. Over time it had been totally obscured with juniper and other vegetation.
“We have made sure some bushes and trees were salvaged and conserved. There is plenty digging to be done planting it out but now we have a blank canvas to work with.
“It was desperately sad to see how neglected parts of the gardens had become, for one reason or another, and looking ahead we can ensure this area will require low maintenance.
“It’s great that Perth and Kinross Council and the business community are supportive. The more the merrier.
“If other businesses have volunteering hours for various community projects I’d encourage them to get in touch.”
Gordon said the gardens would also benefit from ongoing work at Rodney Pavilion, where ex-St Johnstone goalkeeper Kevin Cuthbert is pressing on with building work on a new gym complex and cafe.
“There is also access to the National Heather Collection, the Butterfly Garden, and part of the Sculpture Trail by the river.
Kilmac director Athole said: “We have carried out a few community projects in Perth, including Buckie Braes pathway restoration and a YMCA Tayside courtyard, and further afield but this time a group of staff volunteered to get hands-on after project manager Jimmy Riddoch, machine operator Sean Lennon and Rogan Telford had used a mini excavator to strip the back the banking.
“Days like this are great for team building and a lot of our staff are from Perth and the surrounding area. They were keen to help improve the local environment.
“We are engaged hugely and we have enjoyed welcome support from firms in our supply chain.
“The Beautiful Perth team deserves enormous credit in taking this on. By the time they are finished, Rodney Gardens will be community space the city can be proud of once again.
“The charity enjoys great support from the business community and I’m sure others will be keen to get involved when they hear about this.
“Everyone appreciates the council faces financial challenges and every penny is a prisoner. But with projects like this we can band together in the best interests of the city.”
