A GREEN-FINGERED bunch of residents have spruced up a neglected parkland in Tweedbank by building their own allotments.

And they have proved so popular, there is already a waiting list for a plot.

Tweedbank Allotments Society, a subgroup of the Community Council, dug deep to fund the £10,000 project, with support from the National Lottery’s Awards for All and Scottish Borders Council from Landfill Communities Fund.

And, with the allotments starting to take root just off Essenside Drive, they held an open day to mark its official opening on Thursday.

Retired farm worker Barry Mayo revealed he has found a new lease of life since taking up a plot. He said: “It has been a revelation and we have plenty of produce to use.” Last month, the Border Telegraph revealed talks were ongoing to provide a permanent water supply to the site. But plot holders revealed they were coping well.

Allotment Society chairman Alister Paul said: “There was always a demand for allotments here, Galashiels has two and now there are more than 2000 people living in Tweedbank.

“We have 15 plots, 13 are single ones and the other two are shared between five people each. There is an annual charge of £50, about £1 a week.

“We have two 1,000 litre tanks below the shed roof, a wet night half fills one tank and everybody has their own simple system taking water from sides of the fence.

“We looked at trying to get a supply but it’s expensive to get installed and buy - water’s not cheap.” Former offenders handed Community Payback Orders by local courts helped to clear the site, which borders the new rail line between Langlee and Tweedbank.

Roddy Martin, of the Scottish Borders Criminal Justice Team who coordinated their involvement, said: “We had a team working here two to three days a week in all weathers.

“Clients cleared the ground, mapped it out, created raised beds and plots and built the fence, some who were involved from start to finish really got something good from the work. It is good for the public to see the sort of work carried out through Payback Orders, the theory is that the clients pay back the community where their offences were committed.”