Spring bulbs to add a splash of colour at Thurso schools
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School pupils in Thurso are set to start digging after receiving the welcome gift of spring bulbs from local green-fingered community activist Alexander Glasgow.
Mr Glasgow said he had contacted all the schools in the town and they were all delighted to be gifted with six packets of mixed bulbs which will help brighten up the grounds around each of the establishments.
Mount Pleasant head teacher Suzanne Urquhart said: "We had heard about the community planting that Alexander has been doing in the Springpark area. Our gardening group thought that this was such a wonderful idea that they decided to plant our own daffodil bulbs along the school fencing to continue on from Alexander's hard work.
"We were absolutely delighted when he contacted us last week with a kind donations of mixed bulbs – the children will be planting these very soon."
Mr Glasgow, who set up the Thurso in Colour project, received donations of spring bulbs from W&D Ross Hardware, as well as the Original Factory Shop, including more unusual ones such as dahlias. Donations have also come in from individual members of the public.
Some of the bulbs are destined to go in amongst the town's roses in Olrig Street and public planters for an early blanket of colour.
Mr Glasgow said: "Because there was so many I offered them to the schools."
He feels it would be a nice little project for the Gaelic medium pupils at Mount Pleasant to find the Gaelic names for all the flowers.
The Thurso in Colour project received £750 from the Dounreay Community Fund which will go towards a flower fountain to be situated as a focal point in Rotterdam Street.
Mr Glasgow is hoping to make 2022 a "blooming success" in the town.
In addition, the community activist has also been in contact with a member of the management team at Thurso High School who suggested the S6 sustainability committee would help with tree planting.
He explained that each year the Woodland Trust gives away up to 420 native British saplings to schools and other non-profit organisations with publicly accessible planted areas.
This year, the March delivery is being combined with the Queen's Green Canopy to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee.
When he read about the offer last summer Mr Glasgow immediately ordered a small copse of 30 saplings for November. "These have been dozing in the shed with the gnomes ready for planting any time before March around the Thurso boating pond, " he said.
Among the other areas being considered for tree planting is a corner of the high school field.
Another 220 mixed saplings were ordered last autumn which are scheduled to arrive between the end of February and the middle of March.
A number of schools have their own plans for the Queen's Green Canopy project.
Read more: Wildflowers to brighten up Thurso
Japanese blossoms to provide an added splash of colour in Thurso town centre
