The first of 80,000 spring bulbs which are to be planted in communities around Aberdeen as part of a City Council initiative have been sown.
Friends of Union Terrace Gardens was the first of several groups to receive their consignment of the bulbs, with members and the public taking part which will help brighten the park in the spring-time.
The project is part of an Aberdeen City Council initiative where communities and groups were invited to request some of the bulbs.
Aberdeen City Council Communities, Housing and Infrastructure convener Councillor Neil Cooney said the city’s green spaces will be even more beautiful in a few months’ time.
He said: “City Council horticulture teams work hard all-year round to ensure our parks and other green areas are bright and inviting places for residents and tourists to visit.
“We plant bulbs every year which we know is appreciated and you can see the results around the city, with swathes of daffodils, narcissi, and crocus in many of our parks and greenlands.
“We thought this year that communities themselves would like an opportunity to decide where bulbs should be planted in their areas, so we were delighted when lots of groups came forward with ideas.
“We look forward to seeing the spring flowers in all their colourful glory in the spring.”
Friends of Union Terrace Gardens planted 50,000 bulbs last weekend, as part of the group’s on-going plans to create late winter colour and a more sustainable environment for pollinators, such as bees, in the city centre.
Robin McIintosh, of Friends of Union Terrace Garden, said: “We had a fantastic response to our event with more 70 volunteers taking part and completed planting the 50,000 crocuses in nine hours over Saturday and Sunday.
“With ambitions to plant 1 million crocuses in Union Terrace Gardens over the next five years, we are off to an excellent start.”
Further crocus planting sessions specifically for children are planned with Aberdeen Play Forum, and will take place in Union Terrace Gardens tomorrow (Wednesday 14 October) and 21 October, from 10am to 12pm.