The Piper Alpha memorial in the rose garden in Hazlehead Park. All photos © Ian Talboys and Aberdeen City Council. Aberdeen: the changing face of the Bloom Sandy Scott Aberdeen is the only place in Scotland to have from the late David Welch, former Director of entered Beautiful Scotland in every one of its Aberdeen’s Leisure and Recreation 50 years, winning the city category 37 times Department, and a different approach was and the rose bowl for the highest score in all required as to how the city was presented, not categories 11 times, as well as many successes just to judges, but to Aberdeen’s residents, representing Scotland in Britain in Bloom. In tourists, and those who worked and spent 2010 Aberdeen represented Scotland in the leisure time in Aberdeen. city category of Britain in Bloom again and was very lucky to receive a bronze medal, a New approach humiliating experience given the city’s A whole of service review started in early 2011 pedigree. Part of the report from the RHS and this meant that as part of the streamlining judges stated that it was obviously a council process many experienced personnel either entry and did not embody enough represen - left or took early retirement. One of the key tation from the community. drivers for the review was the determination to seek out public opinion on what their views on Aberdeen City Council was under severe public open spaces were and to that end an financial constraints even before austerity was open space audit was commissioned. Over a recognised nationally and more budget quarter of the land in Aberdeen consists of restraints placed on the Environment Services. open spaces, including parks, gardens, playing What the bronze medal made council officers fields, woodland, river corridors, play areas, realise was that ‘past glories could not allotments and civic space. The audit looked at outweigh the need for new investment’ a quote the amount of each type of open space as well 6 The Caledonian Gardener 2017 as their quality, and how accessible they were had experience in Bloom campaigns. The vice to the communities around them. There is convenor of the then Housing and Environment growing evidence that quality and accessible Committee had attended the 2010 awards open spaces contribute towards improving ceremony in Guernsey and intimated that she health, economy, environment and wellbeing. was willing to be Aberdeen’s parks champion They promote sustainable development, help within the council, a great help when budgets mitigate the impacts of climate change such as were decreasing and grounds maintenance was flooding and air pollution and provide green becoming a lower priority. The councillor networks benefiting biodiversity. promoted the work of the group, partners and volunteers to the rest of the elected members, Strategy heightening the In Bloom profile. The Open Space Strategy is based on the results of the audit and involves communities, Community involvement businesses, residents and partner organi - As a city, some communities were already sations. The strategy aims to provide opportu - mobilised and our existing partners, Culter in nities for everyone to contribute towards Bloom, Dyce in Bloom and the emerging Cove improving the quality of life throughout the in Bloom were all brought closer together as a city, particularly in those areas identified by team with the council and an In Bloom the audit as low in quality. Within a context of strategy evolved which included all the serious financial constraint, it promotes necessary criteria. It is no longer just about innovative and radical ways of maintaining colourful flower beds and baskets. and managing these open spaces. As the Environmental responsibility and community strategy developed it was clear that new ways involvement are now important and along with of thinking and working were already being horticultural achievement are the three pillars developed by council staff and volunteers were that underpin Beautiful Scotland and Britain invited onto the In Bloom steering group who in Bloom. Children’s involvement, investi - Beds within the David Welch Winter Garden complex. 2017 The Caledonian Gardener 7 gating which schools within Aberdeen are Seaton Park. It took weeks of hard work and proactive in environmental issues, tonnes of debris had to be cleared. The Seaton encouraging partnership with business, Park Wetlands Project was set up. There had friends groups, voluntary and other services, been attempts to drain the areas susceptible to aligning objectives to National Health flooding but the park continued to flood and outcomes and other relevant national wetland plants started to colonise naturally, strategies, including biodiversity and climate along with visits from different types of birds. change, are all needed. In August 2015, the council approved plans to make it a designated wetland, and is now When the steering group looked at ways of continuing to work with the local community improving Aberdeen, it quickly emerged that and schools to implement the design as well as Aberdeen had only two entrants in the It’s Your get involved with looking after it. The Neighbourhood campaign. Between them wetlands include a viewing platform as well council officers and local communities as planting which will increase biodiversity increased this number to 25 groups by 2016. and looking visually appealing. It will also be The entrants are wide and varied including structured to discourage children and dogs Drugs Action Recovery Garden Project, from entering areas of deeper water. Friends of Duthie Park and Garthdee Field Allotments Association. Some examples of New thinking Friends Groups are Friends of Hazlehead, one More effort was made in future planning; the of the city’s major fundraisers, Friends of council had been taken to task regarding the Seaton Park, who were instrumental in the clear condition of street furniture, the majority of up after this year’s flooding, Friends of Johnston which was the responsibility of the roads Gardens, a fledgling group just started who authority. A schedule of work was drawn up, have already carried out great work in the park. funding sought and better partnership working achieved between council departments. Aberdeen Muslims, who are a large community group, joined forces with Friends Austerity measures had led to a 50% reduction Of Seaton Park and the council to tackle the in summer bedding; baskets and window clean up after particularly bad flooding in boxes had been lost to the cuts. A new joined Demonstration and community beds in Duthie Park. 8 The Caledonian Gardener 2017 Summer colour in the Victorian corridor in Duthie Park. up effort was made to involve the private Nature conservation sector and communities to enter partnerships. Aberdeen’s Nature Conservation Strategy is a Now, five years on, virtually every bed, planter partnership with a wide range of relevant and window box, with the exception of the organisations both statutory such as Scottish Town House and the Music Hall, are privately Natural Heritage and voluntary. Of particular supported. Last summer over 250 baskets interest is work done at East Tullos Burn. In were supported by Aberdeen Inspired, the 2012 Aberdeen City Council launched a Business Improvement District in the city project to look at ways to improve the East centre. A shift in landscape planning has seen Tullos Burn in Torry. Sadly the burn had more perennial herbaceous borders designed been neglected, suffering with poor water and implemented and a reduction in urban quality and litter problems. The aim of the rose planting, due to high maintenance costs. project was to look at ways to transform the Roses, which Aberdeen was traditionally burn into a more natural water feature to famous for, can still be seen in quantity in improve the water quality, provide a haven for some of our city parks. wildlife, and become attractive to local communities and visitors to the area. In planning for the future Aberdeen has a new, enhanced green space designation the With the help of the local community, a design Green Space Network. This covers our best was produced and work on the ground to areas including river valleys, the coast, implement it began in March 2014. The woodland, District Wildlife Sites and local design included a new meandering course for nature reserves along with other valued the burn as well as the creation of pond areas, landscapes. These areas are eligible to benefit with extensive planting of wetland plants and from significant investment to rejuvenate and trees, plus improved access around the area revitalise them. Developing along the including a new bridge. Local school children transport corridors increases the potential for from St. Fittick’s Primary school helped put people to use public transport, helping to the finishing touches to the burn by helping to reduce congestion and commuting times plant flowers on the site. while helping our environment. 2017 The Caledonian Gardener 9 Two views of Johnston Gardens. The site quickly became awash with colour and visitors from a wide catchment area. All during the summer of 2014. Plants included cater for a specific area of the city but each has yellow iris, ragged robin, purple loosestrife and its own distinctive features. meadowsweet as well as poppy and cornflower in drier places, with many lasting well into the Duthie Park is located close to the city centre, late autumn and early winter. Many insects so popular with locals and visitors alike and such as ladybird, butterfly, damselfly and recognised as one of the best designed parks in dragonfly have moved in and many bird Scotland. The 18 ha. park has a wonderfully species have been seen including the odd spacious feel and includes open green spaces, migrant and rare visitor. The Nature mature deciduous and evergreen trees, flower Conservation Strategy includes plans to help beds and a cascading ornamental pond system species of special conservation concern such with wetland area.