A PERMANENT tribute to the Wee County's volunteers was officially unveiled earlier this week.

Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI) were delighted to be thanking volunteers in a permanent way to mark the end of Volunteers' Week 2021 with a ribbon cutting of a floral planter in the heart of Alloa.

CTSI was seeking a way to recognise the incredible contribution of volunteers over the last year of the pandemic and Anthea Coulter, manager at CTSI, described her thinking behind the planter.

She said: "I saw the planters lying empty and unloved on roundabouts and asked the council department if there was a way of moving them to a more recognised position so that they could be a feature.

"Mike Nicoll, the landscape manager, has been so helpful and has enabled us to get the planter put in position on an empty stone plinth to celebrate volunteers.

"Alloa First and Alloa Round Table, along with CTSI, have sponsored the costs of moving the planter and filling it and providing a permanent plaque in their recognition - and now we have something that will be a centrepiece to thank all the volunteers of Clackmannanshire."

The planter is situated across the road from Kilncraigs and has been repainted and planted up by Alloa in Bloom with a tree, perennials and lots of colourful bedding

Keith Brown, MSP for the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency, praised CTSI for its work in supporting and encouraging local volunteers.

He added: "I was honoured to cut the ribbon on the new floral planter which recognises the tremendous efforts of all of those across Clackmannanshire who have volunteered to deliver services and support to others, especially over the past 15 months.

"I'd particularly like to commend the work of Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface, for championing the third sector in Clackmannanshire and doing so much to support and encourage so many local people to volunteer."