The Bridgend Street site has been a hive of activity in recent months as a team of local lads worked in all weathers to turn the site from an empty gap into a beautifully landscaped garden.

Many of the local organisations which had supported the project were present at the official opening of the garden, carried out by Cllr Strong in glorious sunshine, with musicians Paul Templeman, Sam Tweedlie and Caroline Gorman providing the background entertainment.

Steven McNeil, David Speirs, Scott McNeil, Harley Davies, Shaun Masterson and Chez Harrison, who carried out the work, are all trainees with Argyll Training and students at Argyll College and have been carrying out the work as part of a partnership project also involving Careers Scotland and Argyll and Bute Council, giving young school leavers the opportunity to acquire skills and pick up qualifications.

But the project was much more than a partnership between the college and the training company, with a host of local businesses contributing to the scheme either by lending their expertise to the work or by donating towards some of the landscaping items.

Linda McLaughlan, manager of Argyll College's Rothesay centre, supplied us with a huge list of people to thank, indicating the extent to which the project really was a community initiative.

They are, in no particular order, Argyll College tutors Kevin Bye, Paul Simpson and Susan McFarlane, who all gave up much of their own time to complete the work; Allan MacDonald of Argyll and Bute Council and Ishbel Crawford of Argyll College; Canon Iain MacMaster of St Andrew's Church; Margaret Marshall of Argyll Training; John McGinnes; council transport officer Douglas Blades for approving a new bus shelter; the council's Employability Team for donating benches; all other council departments and staff who assisted with the project; Ronnie Hair of Bute Hire; John McMillan of Greenan Mill; Wilson's Newsagents; Cowal Building and Plumbing Supplies; The Islander; Diane's Hair and Body Salon; Nadia's Hair and Beauty; the West End Café; building contractor Paul Simpson; Simpson's Farm, Ettrick; Bute Blacksmiths; Mill Cottage Garden Centre; Mrs N. McLaughlan for storing equipment; Ronald Robertson; and, last but not least, Bute in Bloom, who funded the purchase of plants for the site.