Union Terrace Gardens at its best: Pictures show glory years of city centre green-spot

By Laura Redpath

June 5 2015, 4:07 pm

1972: Aberdeen Caledonian Pipe Band perform in the gardens.

While images portraying drug use in Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen spark an outrage, the Press and Journal looks back on the “glory years” of the city centre site.

The sunken park in the heart of The Granite City was once full of life but has become underused in recent years.

And this morning, pictures showing a drug-user “shooting up” just yards from shoppers and office workers in the heart of Aberdeen, were revealed by the P&J.

Politicians demanded urgent police intervention to clear the needle-strewn makeshift campsite which has sprung up underneath the Granite City’s main thoroughfare.

And the city council came under fresh fire over its failure to revamp the area after throwing out Sir Ian Wood’s multimillion plans for the gardens three years ago.

Pictures of His Majesty's from Union Terrace Gardens. — Pictures of His Majesty’s from Union Terrace Gardens.

1981: The flower display of badges of major organisations in Union Terrace Gardens. The badges of (from left), The National Trust for Scotland, The World Pipe Band Championships, Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association golden jubilee, Scottish Youth Hostels Association golden jubilee and Royal British Legion Scotland. — 1981: The flower display of badges of major organisations in Union Terrace Gardens including The National Trust for Scotland, and The World Pipe Band Championships.

1946:Men taking part in a game of draughts at the giant sets in the gardens which proved so popular.

2014: A group playing football in Union Terrace Gardens

1978: The sunshine brought big crowds to Union Terrace Gardens where entertainment was often laid on.