Residents at a sheltered housing complex celebrated the welcoming of a new landscape garden with a special tea party.
The new garden is being built following the demolition of 32 surrounding properties that were no longer fit for purpose and proved unpopular among prospective tenants.
Bield’s Carwood Court in Greenock held the tea party for all of its 40 residents who enjoyed a day of tea, coffee and a lunch buffet to mark the beginning of the demolition.
It is hoped that the garden will be complete by this autumn which will allow residents to use the garden at their own leisure.
Margaret Lacey, Scheme Manager, said: “It is so exciting for all of the residents to have a outdoor area to spend their time in. Some of the residents have already even spoken about starting up a gardening club which will be fantastic for them socially.
“Many residents used to have gardens before they moved to sheltered accommodation so it’s fantastic for them to have this outdoor space once again as they get older.
“The tea party was a great way to launch the start of the demolition and the landscaping. The garden is going to be perfect for all of the residents, whether they want to relax and enjoy the outdoors or those with green fingers who want to get stuck in with a bit of light gardening. Everyone is so excited to see it all come together over the next few months.”
All of the empty buildings have now been knocked down and work has begun on turning the space into a colourful, flourishing garden.
Chief Executive Brian Logan said he is delighted with the progress of the demolition and is looking forward to see the residents enjoy the benefits that will come with the garden.
He said: “When the demolition works have finished we will landscape the grounds to create a garden that can be used all year round. Whilst it is sad that we have lost some properties the remaining tenants will now enjoy a much improved living environment.
“As Scotland’s leading provider of house, care and community services for older people, we are dedicated to providing quality care that will enhance and enrich lives. This new landscaped area will hopefully improve the quality of life for all of our residents.
“The Free to Be commitment we have is at the heart of everything we do here at Bield. We let people make their own choices about how they live their lives but we are also here for support when they need it. This garden will allow residents to spend time outside when and how they want but if they need help with anything such as gardening, we will be here for support.”
Bield – a registered charity – has grown from humble beginnings, starting out with one housing development in Bo’ness to become a major provider of a wide range of housing and services for around 20,000 older people across 22 local authority areas.
