Thurso flower appeal hits target thanks to £200 donation
A community activist based in Thurso is delighted that his crowdfunder appeal soared over its target thanks to a donation from former North MSP Gail Ross.
Alexander Glasgow launched a fundraiser appeal in April to bring "compassion and colour" to Thurso through a special flower planting programme. But with just eight days left until it ended and sitting at £300, it appeared the fundraiser might fall short of its £500 target until Mrs Ross donated enough to reach the goal on May 30.
An ecstatic Mr Glasgow wrote: "The crowdfunder has been reached! A thank you to Gail Ross who donated £200 ... you are bloomin' marvellous." Mrs Ross left a message on the crowdfunder page, called Thurso in Colour, that read: "Brilliant project! It will bring a lot of joy to Thurso!"
Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Struan Mackie had pledged £50 a few days before Mrs Ross' donation and the 18 current sponsors have taken the total to £555 – 111 per cent of the target.
Mr Glasgow said: "The public response to my petal-powered work has shown how much Thursonians would like more colour in this small grey town by the sea. Passing through Golspie, for instance, always is a lovely experience.
"My first purchases have been hanging baskets for the pedestrian arcade. I had hoped to secure a camel-back bowser to water them but this wasn't granted in time, so I am quite prepared to use a ladder. There may still be time for more if anyone wishes to gift one."

Mr Glasgow has already added colour to the town centre with the rose patches he tends to and now the hanging baskets on what he calls Thurso's "Narnia lampposts".
The crowdfunding page is open for a few more days but Mr Glasgow can also take cash donations, left at the Messy Nessy play centre, in a sealed envelope marked "Thurso In Colour". All donations will be independently verified.
He hopes that Thurso in Colour will become a constituted group that would be open to more members and able to access greenspace funding and community benevolent schemes.
"Such a group could liaise directly with renewable energy companies and other funds to improve the social value and wellbeing offered to the area and enhance the experience of residents and visitors alike.
"Ultimately though, [no] amount of available funds can compensate for boots on the ground. So much funding can be eaten up by consultation fees or admin costs. Barring the processing fee for crowdfunding, every penny I have received has gone to plants and I use local suppliers as much as possible."
Mr Glasgow is also maintaining planters at the local railway station and says if he had access to a "magic porage pot of money" would like to see an eco-park at the Beach Road gardens; restoration of the crannogs in the boating pond; wildflower meadows; and the opening up of the lade at the river walk.
"And why not think big?" he said.
"A farmer has gifted me oak saplings, and expansion of wooded areas would be wonderful. It'll take a few years to produce acorn coffee, though."
Mr Glasgow's crowdfunder has set a new "stretch target" of £755 and has a few days left to run. It can be found at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/thurso-in-colour. Alternatively, cash donations can be handed in at the Messy Nessy play centre at 2 Rotterdam Street, Thurso.
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Flower power activist appeals for funds to make Thurso 'pulsate with colour'