Alloa in Bloom volunteers spruce up the town centre

A wide range of volunteers joined with Alloa in Bloom for its Big Plant Out Day last Tuesday, June 6, to help put in place some 1,000 plants around the town centre.

They hope the town can repeat last year's Gold Award success as part of Keep Scotland Beautiful's Beautiful Scotland scheme.

Judging for the scheme will take place later in August but Alloa is already enjoying colour in the town.

Barrels and planters as well as around 90 hanging baskets for businesses and 32 hanging baskets for the lampposts on Mill and High streets were put in place on the day with the plants coming from Scottish Autism's Gartinny Nurseries and Homestead Plants.

Alloa First, which supports the project, said on social media: “Thank you to all of the brilliant volunteers who came along yesterday to help with the Big Plant Out.

BIG PLANT OUT: People lent a hand in Alloa town centre to help bring colour to the area - Pictures courtesy of Alloa First

“The flowers are going to look amazing and have already brightened up the town.”

Alloa in Bloom gave thanks to the nurseries for growing the plans, as well as to EPIC Ochils, Clackmannanshire Council, Apex Scotland Alloa, All Cleaned Up CIC and town centre businesses for contributing.

Hanging baskets chosen for this year will help ensure more water is retained as this has been a struggle over the years.

Funding has also been secured from the Fair Work Incentive to employ a former volunteer part-time to ensure plants are watered regularly.

Alloa in Bloom has also been gifted large unused planters which were located at roundabouts into the town to help enhance the display.

Alloa First will be going back to ballot this October when businesses will have to decide whether the business improvement district should continue for another five years.

BIG PLANT OUT: People lent a hand in Alloa town centre to help bring colour to the area - Pictures courtesy of Alloa First