A Moray campaigner has rejuvenated a plot of land to provide a wildflower meadow that is helping people connect with nature.
Lindsay Gale, who lives near Dunphail, south of Forres, had grown concerned about the effects of climate change and the destruction of natural habitats.
So when her father, Michael Dolby, passed away last year leaving an inheritance to share between his six children, that prompted Mrs Gale to form the meadow in his memory.
The campaigner, who runs nature and gratitude workshops, now hopes to open the woodland spot on the Altyre Estate to community groups in the coming months.
She hopes it will help boost the mental health of visitors as well as offering opportunities to local artists.
Mrs Gale said: “My inspiration came from my absolute love of nature, which emerged while spending many wonderful hours as a child with my father in the wilds.
“His favourite past time was to sit, observe nature, photograph and draw what he saw. He was an amazing artist.
“My strongest connection to my father had been through nature and one of my fondest memories of being a child was being surrounded by bees, hoverflies, butterflies and a myriad of other insects in a wildflower meadow.”
A broken ankle forced Mrs Gale to delay planting the first seeds until June – after wet weather had initially pushed back the ploughing of the field.
Despite the setbacks, the meadow is already abloom with a variety of flowers and plants that have been attracting a whole range of insects.
And Mrs Gale believes it will be impossible for someone to set foot in the secluded field without it lifting their mood.
She said: “Everybody who goes to it says they can’t stop smiling when they are there. It just has that effect.”
It is also hoped that the meadow will also provide a much-needed haven for pollinators, including bees and other insects that have had their habitats reduced in recent years.
Mrs Gale added: “Nature was calling out for help. For a place where pollinators could collect nectar to aid their recovery.
“I can’t believe how happy I feel to stand there and witness nature responding to such little effort. It gives me true hope for the future.”
