Just under three years ago, a team of volunteers broke ground in an anonymous field beside the Spey.
The patch of grassland in Aberlour, known as the Glebe, had for years been used only as occasional sheep grazing.
The Aberlour Glebe Garden produces a wide range range of fruit and vegetables.
But, after countless hours of planning and hard work, the Aberlour Glebe Garden has become a beautiful and thriving part of village life.
The charity, established through the Aberlour Parish Church, has turned the once-plain field into a garden home to beds packed with flowers, fruit and vegetables.
The orchard is expected to bear fruit next year, and the site also includes a wildlife pond, a polytunnel for year-round growing and benches where visitors can rest and enjoy a quiet moment.
Produce grown in the garden is offered up free of charge, with members of the public even donating excess produce from their own gardens to avoid waste.
“Nothing is going to waste in Aberlour this year, it’s all going back out into the community,” Jim Connell from the Aberlour Glebe Garden said.
Crew Commander Brian Cooper hands over a donation to the Aberlour Glebe Garden to volunteers Jim Connell, Duncan Gaylor, Louise Cunningham and Graeme Findlay.
And now, an act of generosity from local firefighters is set to help the charity continue as it looks towards even bigger plans.
Aberlour Community Fire Station has donated £300 towards the garden, with cash set to cover the costs of transporting tonnes of compost from Aberdeen.
This year marks the second time firefighters have donated to the project.
Jim Connell, from the Aberlour Glebe Garden, thanked the fire station for its “very generous” donation.
“We really appreciate the generosity of the fire brigade and are very grateful,” he added.
The polycrub in the Aberlour Glebe Garden.
Former firefighter Jim, who was previously grounds manager at Walker’s Shortbread, said the donation came as a “whole host of projects” were in the works.
Among those to have benefited from activities in the garden are local school pupils and members of community groups for the elderly.
“It really is quite incredible what we are achieving,” he added.
“It’s all about getting people involved, getting people into the garden.
“There are already so many lovely things going on in the village, but I’m so happy for Aberlour that it has now got this too.
“The amount of visitors who have signed our visitors’ book is very impressive – it’s a bit like the United Nations in there!”
A recent application by the volunteers for funding to create paths around the garden was unsuccessful.
However, Jim said the team still hopes to find money for the plans, since improved paths would help more people, including those with disabilities and the elderly, to use the garden.
The project is also working towards purchasing a new polytunnel – converting the existing structure into a community space with benches and a small water feature.
The Aberlour Glebe Garen has already served as inspiration to groups in Dufftown and Lossiemouth, who visited to help them develop plans for their own community gardens.
Jim thanked those who have provided funding and donations for their “phenomenal” support.
He also encouraged anybody interested in volunteering to reach out to him by emailing: jimconnell1965@gmail.com
“I have to thank the little volunteer group that we have got, that are working so hard,” he added.
“If anybody is interested in joining as a volunteer then please contact me, that would be fantastic.”
The garden is set to host a Tattie Bogle Festival, giving scarecrow builders of all ages the chance to show off their skills.
Scarecrows can be dropped off between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, October 11.
And, ahead of Halloween, the team is hoping to have a pumpkin carving event, with pumpkin pie on offer, and the chance to light up the pumpkins.
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