Residents and visitors using the Milngavie Travel Hub may have noticed a transformation to the grounds over this year. The attractive display of trees and shrubs which now greets people passing through the station is thanks to the vision and hard work of one of East Dunbartonshire Council’s apprentices.
Christopher Donnelly started as a Modern Apprentice in August 2018 and has been working the Council’s Streetscene Environmental team. At the start of the summer he was tasked with making improvements to the planted area around the railway station.
In addition to planting new shrubs, Christopher cleared the wooded area of debris and put fresh soil down which was sown with woodland wild flower mix. Bins were replaced with larger capacity ones and the area was cleaned and tidied with bark chips put down in the planted areas. Dead vegetation was removed from a long raised bed and replaced with a membrane topped with grey granite chips and three decorative acer trees.
Billy Hendry, Convener of Place, Neighbourhood & Corporate Assets Committee, said, “The results of Christopher’s hard work are obvious for all to see. The area is much improved and I’m sure the attractive layout will be appreciated by locals and visitors alike. T
he planning which has gone into his design will ensure that the area will continue to look good for many years to come.”
Christopher started his apprenticeship with EDC at Langfaulds Cemetery in Bearsden and attends Daldowie Training Centre two days a week. Now into the second year of his apprenticeship Christopher, 17, said, “I applied for this apprenticeship when still at school as I felt strongly that I wanted to get out and work in a job like this.
“This project was to revamp the area and make it welcoming and eye-catching as it is where tourists start their journey on the famous West Highland Way. I have really enjoyed doing this and watching the plants bloom and develop.
Christopher has gained a variety of experience working with the Streetscene team and has was a runner up, along with fellow apprentice Aedan Coll, at the UK APSE apprenticeship awards which recently took place in Nottingham.
He added, “Throughout my first year I have also worked taking care of gardens, maintaining the grounds of Kilmardinny House in Bearsden, worked alongside cemetery team and have been trained to line football pitches. I am hoping that all the training and knowledge I gain throughout my apprenticeship will allow me to further my career doing this kind of work.”
Eighteen young people from across East Dunbartonshire were recruited to the Council’s much sought-after and award-winning Modern Apprentice Programme in August. The Programme, now in its seventh year, has given life-changing opportunities to 73 young people since 2013.