Fochabers firefighters put finishing touches to community mental health garden ahead of official unveiling
A crew of retained firefighters are putting the finishing touches to a garden spot which aims to help people with their mental health.
The end of this month will see the team at Fochabers fire station officially unveil their mental health garden, a project which has brought many elements of the local community together.
Situated off Burnside Road, the peaceful spot overlooks both the playing fields and the burn.
Fochabers fire station Crew Commander Dave Crawford said: “Over the last few years mental health has been something the crew have been very aware of.
“Some of this is due to the effects of Covid while we’ve we’ve also dealt with quite a few mental health issues.
“The crew wanted to try and do something to help alleviate this for the community and we identified an area which belonged to the council and was overgrown. We approached the council to take it on and create a place where people can go for a seat and a chat if they’re feeling down.
“We’ve put in a bench there with a sign on it saying to folk that it’s OK not to be OK. If someone’s sitting there they could well do with having a wee chat.”
Mr Crawford went on to praise the community response to the project.
He continued: “The crew would like to thank everyone who helped us make this possible.
“We provided the labour and local businesses and contractors came in and helped us. It turned put to be a bigger job than we first thought. It also took a wee bit longer than expected as we were doing it in our own time alongside having call-outs and spells of bad weather.
“The project has been a labour of love for us, though, and and escape from a time where we’ve been really busy.
The official opening of the mental health garden is scheduled for Saturday, June 28 at 12 noon, with all welcome to go back to the fire station afterwards for a barbecue.
