A group of Lanarkshire scouts have been going green recently, after holding a plant sale.
The 113th Scouts in the Burnside area of Rutherglen were holding their first community event in three years, since the covid-19 pandemic struck, and they were delighted to get going again.
The youngsters had tables overflowing with high quality bedding plants and herbs and the people of Burnside were out in droves keen to bring colour back to their gardens and back-courts.
The scouts sold out their plants quickly leaving everyone to enjoy some home baking and coffee inside the hall.
The whole group, who meet weekly at Crawfurd Hall on Burnside Avenue, had rallied together baking, setting up, selling, running a raffle and publicising the event, with the newly formed squirrels, for ages four and five, delivering a few leaflets to nearby houses
Group leader, Graeme Hamilton, told Lanarkshire Live : “This was our first whole-community event for three years, and it was amazing to see more people than ever come along and join us, buying plants and relaxing over a cuppa.
"We’ve been at the heart of this community for 113 years and it’s great to still keep old connections and make new ones. Everyone loves the plant sale and we are already planning our May 2023 event."
Graeme added that the squirrels section, which formed earlier this year, has been going from strength to strength, with the the first ever intake of Squirrel Scouts in the Rutherglen area all officially invested in to the 113th Glasgow (Burnside) Scout Group.
The group's expansion came as new stats showed a growth in popularity for Scouts across the country, something that Graeme says has been mirrored locally.
He explained: "We now have young people travelling from the east end of Glasgow and from the athlete’s village to join our thriving and growing scout group.
"We have had to open a second beaver colony for six-eight year olds to meet demand and we are desperately looking for adult volunteers to run our explorer scout section for 14-18 year olds and help them secure their top scout awards and their Duke of Edinburgh’s award.”
The 113 have welcomed four new adult volunteers in recent months too, all of whom have already completed much of their training online.
Shirley Lyon, a mum of a new Squirrel and a Beaver, told us : "My two boys love the activities and meeting new friends.
"I was a little unsure at first, but scouting is so friendly and being a volunteer here allows me to have fun and develop my leadership skills too."
Anyone looking for more information on the Scouts should contact Graeme at enquiries@113.org for details.
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