Looking south across the proposed community garden site from close to its northern end.
Allotments and a community garden could be created in a Black Isle village after plans were lodged with the Highland Council.
Regenerate Our Green Space Ltd (ROGS), a not-for-profit community group in the Fortrose and Rosemarkie area, has submitted proposals to convert land gifted to them by a local housing developer.
Tulloch Homes has handed over a triangular area of land near to new housing on Fortrose’s Ness Road,
And ROGS is hoping to use the open space to create a community garden, including a pond, native trees, seating and space for six “quarter-sized” allotments and raised beds.
The triangular site, which runs from number 18 Deans Road at one end and alongside Ness Road to Ross Crescent at the other, is disused agricultural land left over following the completion of Tulloch’s Ness Gap housing development.
ROGS also hopes to take full advantage of the site’s views out towards Chanonry Point and the Moray Firth by including several benches and “two simple shelters” that will enable people to enjoy the location regardless of the weather.
Outlining their proposals in a supporting statement lodged with the application, ROGS said: “It is designed so that the creation of the gardens will promote community cohesion and contact between residents of all abilities in the newer and older parts of the town.”
They added: “The development will provide an attractive and welcoming, maintained communal garden area linking the established part of the town to the newer housing thus encouraging community engagement.”
The proposed layout for the new community garden. Picture: Highland Council planning portal.
The proposals follow consultation with residents living within the Fortrose & Rosemarkie Community Council area. This included surveys in 2021 and 2023, a petition in 2023 and an open day in 2024 where they were able to make suggestions about the future use of the land.
“The response has been positive and enthusiastic with suggested features being included within the layout,” continued the supporting statement, “ROGS now has over 200 constitutional members who are residents.”
They continued: “The site has exceptional views over the Ness Gap development and across Chanonry Point to Ardersier and Fort George, and the outer Moray Firth to the north-east over to Riff Bank and beyond. The hills to the south-west can also be seen as well as parts of the Inner Moray Firth.”
The community garden will feature two paths – one featuring an accessible hard-surface of “consolidated material” and the other being of grass which will cross each other at two places “to give an effect of a “Pictish” interwoven design”. The winding nature of the path will also reduce the gradient in order to facilitate wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
Rustic bench seating with backrests will be set out in various places around the garden to encourage people to take time to “fully enjoy the views, the plants and wildlife whilst presenting an opportunity to meet other people”.
The planned quarter-size allotments will be available to rent by residents in the community council area, “with flexible arrangements to allow for groups as well as individuals”.
There will be space for raised beds at various sites for able-bodied as well as disabled people
Landscaping of the site will include the planting of Scots pine sapling as well as a number of “small native species providing fruit, berries and nuts for people as well as wildlife”.
ROGS added: “The intention is to plant trees which do not grow to a great height, in order to protect and maintain the views and the open feel of the site.”
The perimeter of the community garden will also feature native hedging such as hawthorn, blackthorn, sea buckthorn and wild rose”.
Limited parking will also be created, providing a space for disabled motorists to visit, although the intent is for most visitors to come on foot.
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