TOOLS kindly donated to Tullibody Community Garden have been cleaned, oiled, buffed, re-handled and renovated and are now ready to be put to good use.

Last year the Tullibody Health Living (THL) Initiative asked the local community for donations of unwanted garden tools, regardless of their condition, and over 50 spades, forks, rakes, hoes, trowels and shovels were handed in.

Some were in great condition but others needed a little bit of attention, so THL approached HMP Glenochil – who they had already forged a partnership with – to see if they could bring them back to their best.

Now, thanks to prison officers and offenders, the tools are as good as new and will help those tending to the garden.

Community gardener, Sarah Watts, said: “We will use all of these garden tools to grow fruit and vegetables in Tullibody.

"What’s great is that they’re not being thrown away and we don’t have to buy new ones.

"That’s important to us as we want to reduce our carbon footprint. We’re doing that by growing food locally and reusing these tools. Thank you everyone who handed something in.” HMP Glenochil has its own grounds/gardens department where offenders learn skills relating to horticulture.

They grow a range of fruit and vegetables, which is then used in the prison’s training kitchen, as well as being donated to local churches within Clackmannanshire.

Gardens officer, Peter Rainey, said: “Over the winter months when there is less gardening and maintenance required it is good to have some indoor activities.

"We’ve enjoyed helping another local gardening project out, and offenders have also learnt some new skills along the way.”