THREE community groups from the Helensburgh and Lomond region have been awarded £100 from local charity Act, as part of Act Alfresco - a new incentive which encourages people to actively enhance, protect and promote the wonderful outdoors of Argyll and the Isles.

From installing a seat for passers-by to enjoy a view to planting fruit trees to improve biodiversity, groups from across Argyll met the criteria required to qualify for an 'Act Alfresco' £100 award and three of them were from Helensburgh and Lomond.

One of the groups, Friends of Duchess Woods, have used their grant to plant 40 native fruit trees (wild cherry/pear and apple) in woodland areas which will improve biodiversity by attracting more insects and birds.

The other two groups from the area were; Friends of Hermitage Park who plan to spend their grant on an entrance noticeboard for the park; and Rhu and Shandon Community Council who plan to -replace and upgrade a seat on the end of Rhu spit.

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