Plot has a happy ending in Aviemore!

Can you dig it?

After planting the seed 18 months ago, a local steering group has blooming well got the green light – none greener – for allotments at the strath’s new Badenoch and Strathspey Community hospital at Dalfaber in Aviemore.

Aviemore Allotments Association is now arranging arranging a public meeting to announce the plans and to finally form a vibrant allotments association which will take the project forward.

“After badgering the Highland Council for land in Aviemore for all this time we finally have some very good news,” co-ordinator Judith Marten told the Strathy earlier this week.

“We now have the go-ahead to put allotments on an unused wild plot of land at the very end of our new community hospital – it’s absolutely perfect!

’It’s land that owned by NHS Highland and they are willing to give us a long lease, knowing that as yet there are absolutely no plans to use it for anything else in the foreseeable future.

“It is a real win-win situation.

“The site is central for residents of Aviemore, it’s a good size to get us going – flat too – and is extremely complementary to the existing therapy gardens in the hospital grounds.

“It will quickly become a major community venture and the hospital is delighted that this will bring more people down. It’s been waiting for us all this time!”

Ms Marten added: "I want to thank each of our supporters for their willingness in engaging with this long-overdue project.

"We hope that by next year there will be enthusiastic gardeners at work growing vegetables and contributing to the sustainability of our local food."

Especially thrilled by the breakthrough was Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry who said: “Everything should be done to encourage local people to start and to grow food on appropriate unused land.

“It is not only a good use of that land, it is good for strengthening communities and assisting with good mental health.

“I am happy to support this and other proposals where there is a clear benefit to people and families,” he added.

“We should all work to seek to reward such initiatives and, where possible, to help to iron out any obstacles that might prevent progress.”

There had been growing frustration with the lack of progress being made to create plots in Aviemore.

An earlier bid to convert part of the former village primary school at Milton Park stalled a short time following its launch.

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