Cuper in Bloom counts down to launch day

Pictured at Ferguson Square are, from left - Mary Law, Ronnie Law and Vicky Coull.

Cupar in Bloom has held a launch day since 2010, and the 2016 launch is next week.

Children from local schools - including Bell Baxter High School, Little Beehive Nursery, Castlehill Primary, St Columba’s, Kilmaron and Elmwood College – will put on a series of presentations showing what they plan to do.

Elmwood College will be providing the presentation equipment.

Pictured at Ferguson Square are, from left - Vicky Coull, Ronnie Law and Mary Law.

Cupar in Bloom chairman Mary Law said that in past years the children have brought a variety of ideas to the launch days, and this is expected to continue.

“The kids get to do whatever they feel they could manage,” she said.

And heading the day will be a talk by horticulture lecturer at Perth College, Gordon Croll.

Mr Croll, who was also senior college lecturer at Dundee College for 29 years, will tell Cuparians about the health benefits of gardening.

Asking ‘What is a Therapeutic Garden?’ Mr Croll will talk about how gardening is good for the mind and body.

Mary added: “People are happier if they live somewhere that isn’t grey, but is green and colourful.”

Launch day is Thursday (April 21) at Cupar Corn Exchange and it’s open to everyone from 10am.

Visitors will be welcomed from 9.45am when free tea and coffee will be available, but volunteers will be on hand throughout the day and people can ‘come and go as they please’, Mary added.

And because the day coincides with the Queen’s 90th birthday, there will be royal theme to proceedings, currently being kept under wraps.

Cupar in Bloom will also be taking part in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Beautiful Scotland campaign – a long established community-led environmental improvement campaign run in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society.

The organisation aims to increase the number of floral displays in the town as part of the Fife Council’s Beautiful Fife scheme.

It was set up with the aim of protecting, preserving and enhancing the environment in Fife’s towns, villages and countryside.

Last year Cupar won a gold award in the competition as well as being the category winner for best ‘medium town’.

And the successes last year resulted in North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins lodging an Early Day Motion calling on the House of Commons to mark the achievements of the volunteer committee for their Royal Horticultural Society Gold Award and the discretionary Young People’s award in the Britain in Bloom competition.