EXCITING plans to spruce up Largs town centre are in the pipeline for 2025 - with organisers thanking the community for their efforts in beautifying the area this year.

Largs Community Development Trust say they have ideas for the garden area outside The Blue Lagoon for next year, and have praised the contributions of everyone involved in tidying the site in time for this year's Viking Festival.

The Trust's Wendy Low Thomson told the News that it has been a terrific effort with local groups, individuals, and businesses, and the council's Streetscene team, all helping.

Council cuts this year have meant a reduction in bedding plants across the board in the town centre and along the seafront, with even the hopes of perennial plants being grown in the town being heavily reduced, sparking concerns raised at full North Ayrshire Council meetings.

As recently reported, the development trust have rolled up their sleeves and got to work, and as well as community volunteers, former offenders have carried out their community service at the garden and given back to the town.

North Ayrshire justice services posted photos of the finished effort on their social 'X' page, and stated: "Work has now finished at Largs Community Garden. Great work from our supervisor and the hard working teams."

Wendy Low Thomson explained: "Basically, I got in touch with the supervisors at the North Ayrshire justice team and six of them came, and helped clear the site. They laid the membrane and shovelled up all the stone chips.

Team effort: Wendy Low Thomson has praised everyone involved in resurrecting town centre green spaceTeam effort: Wendy Low Thomson has praised everyone involved in resurrecting town centre green space (Image: Newsquest)

"It was through what used to be known as the community service payback scheme, and I spoke to some of the boys myself and some of them had fallen on the wrong side of the law for the stupidest of things and they aren't bad boys; maybe they got into the wrong group of people but life is a learning curve, and it is not the end of the world for them and this has given them a sense of discipline and pride within the community."

It was a full team effort with volunteers from the development trust getting involved, with support from North Ayrshire Streetscene.

Wendy said: "I spoke to Eric Head at Streetscene and he managed to procure two of the planters which were set to go to the tip and they have been recycled and are now used at a garden feature, and David and Abbi from Haylie Stores planted both planters for free.

"The whole Streetscene team have been really supportive and I'd like to thank them very much for all their help. It was a community effort on so many levels and people pulled together and it is looking great, but this is not the long term plan as we are hoping to access other funding in future.

"The main reason behind the improvement was because it was looking a mess, but we have longer term plans for the site and hope to make it something that the community can be proud of once more."

The town has been rallying thanks to the good positive work of the trust which has seen a new community garden area being built at Barrfields Park, while the play facility at Aubery has also been given a makeover this summer, as eyesore areas in the town have been targeted for renewal.

And the Mackerston water fountain was also switched back on for the first time in 20 years which has been symbolic of the areas being regenerated thanks to the efforts of local volunteers.