The Largs Development Trust have teamed up with Amey to clean up a patch of overgrown wasteland at Barrfields Park.
A team of seven civil engineers from Amey’s CEFA Railway team donated a days’ worth of labour to the regeneration work being undertaken by Largs Green Futures, with support from the Largs Community Development Trust.
The patch of land at the former west entrance to the ground has been out of use for more than 20 years.
The local groups have big plans for the area, and the progress is already clear to see.
Much of the groundwork was carried out a couple of weeks ago by A&E Landscapes, while eight large raised beds have been provided cutesy of Scott Beds.
Three of these have already been filled with four tonnes of soil, kindly donated by the Fairlie Community Garden, to try and get the project off the ground.
The aim is to provide a small and safe place where local people can come and grow together, helping boost physical and mental wellbeing, while also making the plot more attractive and productive than it has been in years.
The site also contains a long-term derelict and disused toilet block, previously buried among ivy and brambles.
Work has begun to refurbish the building to make make it far more attractive for neighbours, as well as returning it to a useful asset for those using the gardens.
Lyle McDonald, chair of the Largs Community Development Trust, who was also one of the Amey volunteers, said: “It was great to have the support and enthusiasm of my colleagues who despite the atrocious weather travelled from across Strathclyde to donate their labour and expertise to the project.
"We split into two teams and managed to get through a power of work.
"One squad directed their attention to the building, scraping back all the flaking paint from the woodwork and sanding and undercoating any that was dry enough to do so, securing loose timber, clearing the gutters of 20 years’ worth of debris and sludge, as well as filling and priming an old bench which was found under the plant growth, ready for a top coat.
"After so long out of use, it's amazing how fundamentally sound the building is, but there will still be a lot of work required to complete the refurbishment.
"The other team got stuck into vegetation clearance and litter picking, cutting away the remaining heavy plant growth from the site and the stairs before tacking the job of getting four tonnes worth of compost from the site perimeter into the raised beds.
"I’m sure everyone involved will join me in thanking the guys for their efforts and Amey for allowing us to do so.”
The development trust has many exciting projects planned for the town, including ongoing work to recommission the Mackerston Fountain.
The group is purely funded by donations and grants and ran by volunteers.
Anyone who is able to volunteer their time or make a donation of money or materials can get in touch by emailing chair@largscdt.org.uk.
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