VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED!

HELP - SUNDAY 2ND OCTOBER 9.30 AM

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE GEORGE FORREST BED IN MAXWELL PARK. IF YOU FEEL YOU COULD SPARE SOME TIME TO HELP WITH WEEDING AND PREPARING THE BED FOR NEW PLANTS PLEASE CONTACT 07966867929.

THE FRIENDS WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD BRING YOUR OWN SPADES, FORKS AND HAND TOOLS PLUS WILLING MAN-POWER!

THE SUM OF £5,5225 HAS BEEN AWARDED BY POLLLOKSHIELDS AREA COMMITTEE BUT AS THE GREATER PART OF THIS WILL BE TAKEN UP BY ERECTING A FENCE (TO PREVENT OUR DOGS FROM DAMAGING PLANTS AND TO DETER THEFT) WE NEED TO SUPPORT LAND AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES WITH THIS PROJECT. FURTHER DONATIONS WOULD ALSO BE WELCOME TOWARDS THE PROVISION OF NEW PLANTS ALTHOUGH IT IS INTENDED TO RESCUE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. IT IS ALSO INTENDED TO ERECT AN INTERPRETATION BOARD WITH INFORMATION ON GEORGE FORREST, HIS CONTRIBUTION AS A PLANT HUNTER AND HIS ASSOCIATION WITH THE STIRLING MAXWELL FAMILY, WHO FUNDED SOME OF HIS EXPEDITIONS TO THE HIMALAYAS.

Gardens in Britain owe a huge debt to George Forrest as he was responsible for bringing back over 30,000 specimens of 10,000 plants from China over a period of 17 years, at the start of the 20th century. The plants which he introduced into Britain included 300 new species of rhododendron (which was unknown in Britain until his discovery), azaleas, primula, gentians, conifers, orchids, magnolias, saxifrages and pieris - Pieris Forrestii adds a splash of colour to shady corners of many gardens. The list of material collected by Forrest is impressive and includes Abies georgei, Acer, Adenophera, Aster, Dacocephalum, Hemerocallis, Iris, Primula and Rhododendron forrestii.