Aberdeen artists join forces to save gardens

Friday, September 04 2009 17:12:43 by Editor

A group of green-fingered artists in Aberdeen have united to fight back against plans to develop one of the city's most popular public gardens into a civic square.

Under the mooted development plans, the city's Union Terrace Gardens will be raised to street level, with a new square to be built joining them with Denburn Valley.

While the plans have the backing of the Wood Group, the city's artists have argued that the development would bring an end to dreams of building a new visual arts centre on the site.

As such, dozens of local artists have joined forces to stage an exhibition aimed at highlighting the role the gardens play in the local community and persuading the council to back down from their development plans.

Local artist and resident Katie Guthrie told the Aberdeen Press and Journal: "This show is a really great example of artists working together in a totally positive and creative way."

Meanwhile, the Sunday Herald recently reported that guerilla gardening efforts in Glasgow have increased over recent weeks, with a site next to the M8 motorway having been converted into an allotment growing potatoes, marrows, onion and garlic.