A north-east aquarium’s ambitious plan to create an outdoor play area has been boosted by winning £12,000 from its local supermarket.
Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme, funded by the 5p carrier bag levy, will meet the bill required to establish a toddlers’ playground outside Macduff Marine Aquarium.
As devised by the Friends of Macduff Aquarium group, the play area will introduce wooden sharks, an octopus and a starfish to the coastal attraction on which youngsters can enjoy themselves.
New information boards to educate an older audience will also form part of the project.
It is expected that, with the money now in place, work can begin to get the scheme up and running by the summer.
Shoppers in Huntly, Turriff, Fraserburgh and Banff had been voting in-store on which project they wanted the supermarket chain to award money to since February.
Last night, a spokeswoman at the aquarium said staff were “thrilled” with the win.
She added: “Not only will we have these lovely additions to our outside space, but we’ll be able to install more info boards outside to help people appreciate the marine wildlife that can be spotted from our car park.
“Thank you to everyone for supporting this project when doing the shopping.”
Earlier this year, Tesco announced the project at the aquarium would be given at least £8,000.
Its popularity, however, has resulted in the Friends of Macduff Aquarium receiving the supermarket’s “top prize” – £4,000 more than expected.
Last year, the facility was named the UK’s No 1 underwater attraction. It was also ranked in Europe’s Top 20 and claimed a prestigious Travellers’ Choice Award.
The popular visitor site pipped Hull’s The Deep and the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth to the title awarded by TripAdvisor.
