Residents at a sheltered housing complex in Moray are being given a helping hand from their local military barracks to refurbish their garden.
Burnside Court, in Buckpool, was awarded almost £10,000 from the National Lottery to redevelop an garden area to create more communal space featuring bowls lanes and small putting greens.
Residents had already raised £1,000 themselves, and have now been helped by the 39 Engineers Regiment at Kinloss Barracks to realise their dream.
Last night, Derek Thomson, chairman of the residents association at Burnside Court, said neighbours were already coming up with plans on what to do next with the space.
Army engineers carried out the work free of charge, including surveys to ensure the residents got accurate quotes needed to submit their grant application.
The project is now expected to be complete by July.
Mr Thomson added: “I would like to especially thank the local army for their assistance.
“We had managed to raise £1,000 ourselves but could not have afforded the survey work required for our application so it is very good of them to have agreed to help out. We will make sure they are invited to our opening party.”
Hanover Housing Association’s Burnside Court manager Marie Buchan described the residents’ work as “absolutely fantastic”.
She said: “As you can see, the residents are very independent and want to live their lives with little or no interference from us. All of the ideas and work has come from them and we have just offered whatever support they have asked us for.
“Between the residents and the army they have taken this project through from start to finish and hopefully it will now be completed soon. I just hope they are kind enough to invite me along to some of the amazing events they have planned.”
