Paths group and flower baskets volunteers in Wick memorial garden tidy-up
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Eleven hard-working volunteers from Wick Paths Group and the flower baskets committee turned out on Sunday morning for a tidy-up of the town's World War II memorial garden.
They carried out weeding and other tasks to ensure the garden in Bank Row is looking at its best in the run-up to gala week.
Memorial garden volunteer Yvonne Hendry said: "It was great to see so many people giving up their time to help. It really shows what a good community spirit we have in Wick.
"What a difference they have made – we are very grateful.
"We must also thank the local community payback team for continuing to cut the grass in the garden on a regular basis."
Until recently Yvonne was secretary of the group that established the garden and is responsible for looking after it, Second World War Air Raid Victims – Wick.
"We've had lots of people spending time in the garden over the summer, tourists as well as locals," she said.
"Everyone is welcome – all we ask is that they treat the garden with respect.
"There are ongoing expenses to cover the cost of new plants as well as insurance, so any donations would be welcome."
Anyone wishing to donate can email Yvonne at yvonne@cvg.org.uk
Wick Paths Group chairman Willie Watt said: "It was great to be able to make improvements at the memorial garden to keep it shipshape. I would like to thank the volunteers from both groups who gave up their Sunday morning to tidy both the garden and the approaches to the riverside ahead of the County Show on Saturday.
"We really do have a great community of groups and individuals who keep the town tidy to the benefit of all.
"Just recently, while working at the Braehead, a couple from Yorkshire on holiday stopped for a chat and were keen to tell me how clean and tidy our town was. This is testament to everyone who takes the time to pick up rubbish and litter.
"They make such a difference and year on year we are seeing less litter around the town, which is just reward for everyone’s efforts.”
The flower baskets committee is a subgroup of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council. Its members plant and maintain many of the floral displays around the town.
Volunteer Joanna Coghill said: "We were more than happy to help on Sunday morning. The more the merrier, the quicker the job is done, and the banter was good.
"But quite a few of us had never spent time there, so we learnt more about the story behind the garden. We decided to help as we knew quite a few of the paths group team were either away or unavailable and it was important to help get the gardens looking good."
The memorial garden was officially opened in August 2010 on the site where 15 people lost their lives in an air raid in July 1940.
It commemorates the victims of the Bank Row bombing as well as the three people who died in October the same year in an attack on Hill Avenue, near the town’s RAF base.
Individual stones embedded in a drystone wall are engraved with the victims' first names.
Ten of the 18 people who died in the 1940 bombings in Wick were children, ranging in age from four to 16 years.
The Bank Row site had lain derelict for many years after the war.
A small team of volunteers carry out regular planting and maintenance, and the garden has been used for community events including last year's Easter Fayre held by the Elise Lyall School of Dance.
