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Filming for Beechgrove Garden

BATHED in sunshine, Stranraer's Gardens of Friendship made the perfect setting as filming began for the BBC's Beechgrove Garden last Thursday morning.

By the time the television crew were finishing off the following day, the brollies were out - but the spirits of all involved in the project were anything but damp.

A large crowd gathered on the Friday afternoon to watch as Stranraer centenarian Isabella Fidler, accompanied by local man of many talents Donnie Nelson, cut the ribbon to officially declare the refurbished gardens open.

It marked the culmination of many months of effort by a large group of people to transform the gardens into the showpiece they have now become.

The Beechgrove adventure all started months ago when one of the Friends of the Garden - the group who help look after the site - contacted the BBC.

Andy Ross, who lives in Stranraer's Royal Avenue, wrote off in the hope that the Beechgrove team could be tempted to make the long journey from their Aberdeen base to the South-West.

They were immediately impressed by what they heard and thought that the Gardens of Friendship tied in perfectly with the community gardens series they were planning.