Looking south across the proposed community garden site from close to its northern end.
Plans for a community garden and allotments in a Black Isle village have been approved by Highland Council.
Regenerate Our Green Space Ltd (ROGS), a not-for-profit community group in the Fortrose and Rosemarkie area, lodged plans last autumn to convert land gifted to them by a local housing developer.
The plans cover a triangular area of land bordering on to Fortrose’s Ness Road.
And ROGS is hopes 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.
Those plans have now been approved by Highland Council’s planning officers under delegated powers.
The application had initially sparked an objection from the council’s transport planning team, which raised concerns over the limited parking proposed for the site.
However, the objection was dropped after the applicants supplied additional information explaining that the limited parking was deliberate in order to encourage people to visit the garden on foot or cycle – and to minimise the chance that the site might be used as overspill parking by visitors to the area.
Granting permission, council planning officer, Ruairidh Strachan, said: “The transport planning team had initially advised that an additional parking place should be implemented within the proposed hardstanding area.
“However, the supporting statement provided explained the reasoning behind the minimal parking provision, and this was deemed to be suitable justification.”
The layout for the new community garden. Picture: Highland Council planning portal.
They added that planning policies encourage developments that boost physical and mental health, nature, and facilities that enable people to “live, play, work and stay in their area”.
“The proposed development is considered to contribute towards these qualities by increasing the opportunity that the community have to connect and interact with nature within their local area,” they added.
The planned community garden will occupy a triangular area of land which runs from number 18 Deans Road at one end and alongside Ness Road to Ross Crescent at the other. The site is currently disused agricultural land left over following the completion of the 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 initial 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 application was submitted following consultation with residents 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 six 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”.
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