Work to create a memorial garden in a north-east port for its widowers is nearing completion.
Aberdeenshire Council is building the garden over Fraserbrugh’s former petanque pitch in James Ramsay Park and is in the process of laying the final touches.
The sport has fallen out of favour in recent years, and local councillor Ian Tait suggested to the authority that the space would be better served by offering a place for residents to reflect on the loss of a loved one.
And last night, he confirmed work was almost complete.
“Trees leading to the garden have been planted making an impressive colonnade leading into the garden,” he added.
“The beech shrubs surrounding the area will also grow to provide a thick hedge, and the flower beds will be planted with seasonal flowers.”
Mr Tait added that he had “enjoyed” seeing the project coming to fruition.
He said: “I have wanted a garden of remembrance in Fraserburgh for my constituents for quite a while now, and looked around for possible sites – think this one is perfect.
“I think my constituents, like myself, will want to see this Garden of Remembrance become a place of quiet solitude and remembrance which will be well used and appreciated by all those grieving for a deep loss, or those simply wishing to remember a dearly departed loved one.”
The garden has been created just yards form the town’s war memorial.
Mary Melville, the vice-chairwoman of the town’s community council, has previously supported the project.
Describing it as a “positive idea”, she said: “You want someone to come away with it from a nice memory.”
Petanque – a French variant on the game of boules – can be played on any flat surface, but is typically played on loose gravel between two squads of up to three players. The town has no official teams.
