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A walled garden in one of the area’s most popular parks has been bought back into use by people sentenced to community payback orders.

Dollar Park’s walled garden, which had fallen into disrepair, has been given a new lease of life by using the criminal justice system to put individuals sentenced to unpaid work to work in the garden. Up to ten people per day have been working in the garden since April 2011.  Many of those on unpaid work orders have returned voluntarily to continue working in the walled garden and teach others the skills they have gained on the job.

The idea of regenerating the garden came from an unpaid work officer in August 2008. Falkirk Council has worked in partnership with the Friends of Dollar Park, the Cyrenians charity and Falkirk Environmental Trust (FET) since then to restore the garden to its former glory.

Materials were even sourced from the Victorian era to make the garden’s restoration as authentic as possible. Now the garden has sculptures, sensory areas, flower patches, fruit trees, two ponds, a storytelling area, a large chess board and a band stand area.

The Cyrenians charity, which works with people who may feel excluded from society, has appointed a garden co-ordinator who will work with people on community payback to maintain the garden and promote events there. In future children will use the area to learn about planting flowers and growing vegetables and crops and members of Falkirk’s Joint Dementia Initiative will get to use the garden as much as they like.

Councillor Jim Blackwood, spokesperson for Public Protection, said: “Community payback orders have seen individuals convicted in court give something back in a number of ways, but the regeneration of the walled garden is by far the largest project they have been involved with.

“It is testament to our criminal justice service that people sentenced to unpaid work in the garden are immensely proud of it and some even volunteered to come back and help with the project after completing their court order. These people have learned new skills and used them to serve the community.

“Everyone involved in bringing this valued area of Dollar Park back into use has created something that will be valued by people for years to come.”

People given a community payback order have to carry out unpaid work such as environmental improvements, graffiti removal, decorating and assistance for older and disabled people.

The project was awarded grants from the likes of FET and Cashback for Communities. This paid for materials and more advanced labour such as stonework, which was carried out by local companies.

The public are welcome at an open day on Saturday 29 August from 12pm – 5pm that will have entertainment for adults and children including story telling, face painting and more. The open day follows an official event on Friday 28 August from 1pm – 3pm where Provost Pat Reid and Justice Secretary Michael Matheson MSP will celebrate the completion of the seven year long project and a commemorative plaque will be unveiled.

Community payback orders have seen people carry out a range of types of unpaid work including path laying in the local area, upgrading sports stadiums, working on Bo’ness steam railway and helping older and disabled people.

Anyone with an idea for a community project can contact the Criminal Justice team on 01324 506464 or 07803898074.