A voluntary group will give one of Buchan’s most recognisable landmarks some TLC this weekend.
The White Horse on Mormond Hill, near Strichen, is a famous symbol in the area and is visible for miles around.
However, the 162ft long quartz horse on the hillside – which is believed to be the only one of its kind in Scotland – is in need of a makeover.
Local councillor, Lenny Pirie, has now appealed for volunteers to join him and his team on Saturday to spruce up the surroundings of the 300-year-old landmark.
He said: “We are hoping to give it a bit of a facelift. It has been a few years since it was last done – it’s always just volunteers.
“What has been holding us up is that, during the winter, the access road is difficult. But a local farmer has agreed to take us up to the site in his tractor.”
The volunteers will be joined by members of a local community payback scheme.
Mr Pirie added: “We’ll be cutting back the bushes, pulling out weeds and rearranging some of the stones which have been misplaced.
“It’s got a lot of history for Buchan – I believe it’s the only white horse in Scotland. It’s very important for the heritage and culture of the area and this will preserve it for the future.”
Earlier this year, the landmark was at the heart of a council row over which views merit being granted protected landscape status.
Although Mormond Hill is Buchan’s tallest point, local authority planners argued its cultural significance was not enough to extend new planning guidelines.
Members of the Buchan area committee have urge it to be included when the special landscape area plan is finalised later this year.
Mormond Hill is also the site of a large stag mural similarly made of laid out quartz on the hillside. The hill was used during the Cold War as a radar base.
Mr Pirie is meeting volunteers outside Strichen village hall at 10am on Saturday. Anyone wishing to join the cleanup is asked to call: 07876 475938.
