In its first year, the group of about 15 green-fingered volunteers has been working with East Dunbartonshire Council's greenspace team to reinvigorate a large raised flowerbed in Milngavie precinct.

During the joint venture, which began last autumn, volunteers and council staff have cleared out old shrubs in the flowerbed next to Oxfam and Colpi ice cream shop on Main Street, replaced them with new ones and planted other flowers, re-cemented the copestones around the flowerbed, added topsoil and compost, power jet washed the facing stone work and painted the railings.

Jenny Overton, convener of Milngavie in Bloom, said: "Working with the council, we decided to tackle the large flowerbed in Main Street. Between us we emptied and restocked the bed and we have agreed to maintain it for a year.

"This is the first big step for Milngavie in Bloom to contribute towards a gradual transformation of the precinct over coming months. We hope to play a significant part, alongside other organisations such as the traders' association, the civic trust, the community council and East Dunbartonshire Council."Councillor Amanda Stewart, convener of the council's connect services committee, is delighted to be working with the group.She said: "The partnership between us has had great results for the precinct and I know from speaking to council officers that they have enjoyed working with so many enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers."Milngavie in Bloom has also planted out some flowerbeds next to the Fraser Centre and supplied and planted up half barrel planters around the war memorial in the precinct. They have also adopted Milngavie train station as part of First ScotRail 'Adopt A Station Scheme'.The group is holding a spring clean-up in Lennox Park, Milngavie, in association with Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Volunteer helpers are needed and should meet at the flagpole at 6pm on Friday, April 24. For more details call 0141 956 3388.

If you are interested in joining the group or would like to sponsor their efforts, leave your name and contact details at The Fraser Centre in the precinct or at Milngavie bookshop.