CUSTOMERS at a Galashiels bakery have raised almost £700 to help add colour to the town.

For many years, volunteers have tasked themselves with maintaining local gardens.

But the coronavirus pandemic meant they have recently been prevented from getting their hands dirty.

Now, the town’s community council is launching its Floral Gala project, which aims to raise money to brighten up the area.

And customers at Alex Dalgetty and Sons in Bank Street have already given £690 to help the efforts of Floral Gala and Gala in Bloom.

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A spokesperson for the community council said: “The community council successfully applied for and received funding from Build a Better Gala to further support the Floral Gala Project.

“This funding will enable the community council to purchase a number of barrier and three-tier fountain planters which will be situated in the Douglas Bridge and Channel Street areas of the town centre.

“These planters will be deployed in June and will provide much needed colour in and around the town. 

“Galashiels Community Council would like to thank Energise Galashiels Trust for their assistance with this project.”

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The new Floral Gala initiative, led by chairwoman Judith Cleghorn, is aiming to bring the flora back to the town but on a much grander scale.

A lot of hard work has gone into securing funding from Energise Gala, Hayward’s Trust and Focus Centre, among others.

And a crowdfunding page has been set up and is ready to be launched in the hope that residents will dig deep to help keep the town looking its best.

John Gray, from Gala in Bloom, said: “Now that the floral displays in Bank Street gardens, Old Gala House, War Memorial and Gala Aisle are the responsibility of the community council (Gala in Bloom group), the greatest challenge will be to raise the funds required annually to retain those floral displays.

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“Prior to COVID, the Galashiels councillors had agreed to re-establish some assistance from the parking money, but because of the very limited use of the car parks, this assistance is not expected to be available for this summer’s planting.

“The community council is grateful for monies already offered from the Hayward/Sanderson Trust, Galashiels British Legion, Galashiels Rotary Club, from the customers of Alex Dalgetty & Sons Bakers and the Gray/Sanderson Trust and, together with monies from the CC funds, this year is affordable.

“However, to prepare for future years we will be launching an appeal to ‘Save the Public Gardens Fund’ and we are also looking for volunteers to join the Gala in Bloom group, who have already been offered assistance from a Girl Guide group and the ex-Braw Lads and Lasses.”