Leafblower donated to help keep park tidy

08 March 2017

A leafblower has been donated to volunteers to help keep a city park and its neighbouring golf courses spick and span.

The industrial piece of equipment has been donated by Friends of Hazlehead to the dedicated band of people who clear grassy areas of Hazlehead Park and golf courses of debris.

Aberdeen City Council Leader Councillor Jenny Laing said: “The work carried out by the dedicated volunteers and by the Friends of Hazlehead makes such a difference to the park.

“It is great that people care so much about the green spaces in their local area and want to help us to improve them.”

Hazlehead Park is Red Squirrel Conservation Area, and boasts year-round family-friendly facilities including a café, a maze, Pets’ Corner a running track, a 9 hole and two 18 hole golf courses, and a memorial path. Pets’ Corner is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment and will re-open in the coming months.

It is the largest park in Aberdeen at 180 hectares, and is one of the oldest and most historical properties in the city through the land originally having been gifted by King of Scots Robert The Bruce and connections with Mary, Queen of Scots and the Queen Mother Rose Garden.

Furthermore, there are fantastic walks around, and from the park including neighbouring Countesswells Woods.

Friends of Hazlehead chairman Donald Shaw said: “We were only too delighted to have donated the leafblower to the volunteers as they do a fantastic job helping to keep Hazlehead Park looking beautiful.

“We will be looking for volunteers for some events later on in the year including litterpicks and people can look out for this or get further information about the work we do on our website https://friendsofhazlehead.co.uk.”

One of the volunteers, Alasdair MacGregor, said: “At the moment we are working on the area around the Pines golf course because there is tree felling in progress on the MacKenzie Championship layout.”

“The blower donated by Friends of Hazlehead has been in action and makes a huge difference to the amount of work we can get through in a morning.”

PIX CAPTIONS:

Holding the leafblower Alasdair MacGregor (snr volunteer at Hazlehead Golf Club) with L-R Councillor Jean Morrison, Sandy Scott (Parks and Countryside Manager) , Donald Shaw (Chairman of Friends of Hazlehead Park)

Having a shot of the leaf blower is,Alasdair MacGregor (snr volunteer at Hazlehead Golf Club) watched by L-R Sandy Scott (Parks and Countryside Manager), Donald Shaw (Chairman of Friends of Hazlehead Park), Councillor Jean Morrison and holding the leaf blower