Thieves make off with plants worth £640 from Bothwell garden project

Jul 21 2011 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

THIEVES struck at a public garden in Bothwell – as a project to revamp the area was nearing completion.

Around 20 plants, some of them large shrubs worth £640 in total, were taken from Gilchrist Gardens off Green Street late on Friday, July 8, and early the following day.

The garden – in memory of the first female Glasgow University student to gain a medical degree – was undergoing a £60,000 makeover organised by environment group Brighter Bothwell and the official opening is scheduled for September.

The plants stolen, which were specially grown for the project, have been replaced by South Lanarkshire Council.

Further work includes disabled ramps, seats, information boards and pathways.

Brighter Bothwell have received cash from the lottery-funded Awards for All scheme and have received assistance from council gardening staff.

Morag Smith of Brighter Bothwell this week expressed dismay at the thefts. She said: “It took two and a half years to get the funding for the project.

“The plants hadn’t been long planted when they were taken.

“We want people to enjoy the garden, cherish and take care of it. It’s very disappointing.

“The plants were all carefully picked out of the ground. They hadn’t been ripped up and just left there.

“Clearly someone had their eye on them.”

l Marion Gilchrist was born in Bothwell Park in 1864 and graduated from Glasgow University in 1894.

The area of land which comprises the gardens was part of land bequeathed to Marion Gilchrist by her father, a Bothwell farmer, in the early 1900s.

She donated the gardens to the village in 1940.

Marion Gilchrist died in 1952 and is buried in Bothwell Parish Church cemetery.

Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the garden can contact community police officers at 01698 483300 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.