Volunteers needed to help plant Marie Curie daffodils in Thurso
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A green-fingered volunteer is hoping to restore the Marie Curie daffodil fields in Thurso by planting 400 spring flower bulbs.
Alexander Glasgow already has an area in front of the Castle Terrace play park, just off Mount Pleasant Road, earmarked for the project and is busy making the necessary preparations.
However, while he has the help of his faithful gnomes, he is looking for able-bodied humans to also join in the planting or provide some more bulbs.
The local activist explained that the site, which is just across the road from the old Marie Curie fields, has good soil and a hawthorn hedge which will offer summer pollinators and winter feasts for birds.
Mr Glasgow pointed out that the previous fields were on reclaimed ground with shallow soil causing bulbs to become compacted amongst the rubble.
"There once were multiple daffodil fields around Thurso East," he said. "The Dowager Lady Thurso was especially fond of them. Sadly, several have been denuded by premature cutting."
In November last year Mr Glasgow helped plant 1000 daffodil bulbs, donated by Thurso Rotary Club, on an area of ground nearby, just below Queen's Terrace.
This year he has 400 of the popular ice folly daffodils to plant, which have a soft yellow centre with much paler petals on the outside, as well as some tulips. The project, which Mr Glasgow is happy to dedicate to Marie Curie, is all part of the work being carried out by the local group Thurso in Colour.
Mr Glasgow said: "The money has all been raised locally and I got a very good deal offered by W & D Ross for the bulbs. More volunteers to help would be welcome. If anyone had some bulbs that would also be good."
He pointed out that the Mount Pleasant Road sign beside the site was in a poor state and is afraid it will detract from the blooms.
Mr Glasgow said: "Ultimately it's Highland Council's responsibility, at which point it would be bilingual. I am investigating other funding streams from Gaelic language groups for wayfinding and interpretation signage as well, and wonder what the Gaelic for Mount Pleasant is.
"Maybe Beinn Bhreagh – Alexander Graham Bell's estate in Nova Scotia – or Beautiful Mountain?"
He added: "Flowers may not be a statutory duty for Highland Council, but their presence provides additionality for any area. Spring flowers always tell us that the cold of winter is over."
A few local residents have already offered to help make Thurso 2022 "bloomin' marvellous" and anyone else wishing to sign up to the cause can contact the selfless volunteer by email – alexanderglasgow.foi@gmail.com – or on his Caithness Manifesto Facebook page.
Online donations can be made at the Thurso in Colour page on GoFundMe, which is now linked to the treasurer's account.
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