A “global garden” has been unveiled as an integral part of plans to transform a former Angus hospital.
Brechin Healthcare Group (BHG) has submitted a community asset transfer request to NHS Tayside to take over the massive Brechin Infirmary site which was deemed surplus to requirements in February 2018.
The aim is to develop a health and wellbeing hub for the community of Brechin, Edzell and the Glens, with “social prescribing” at its heart.
Chairman Grahame Lockhart said they were delighted to hear of exploratory talks between individuals in Dundee and the Eden Project over a future “global garden”, potentially at Camperdown Park.
“A ‘global garden’ in the extensive garden area of the Infirmary site is an integral part of our plans for the centre as we move forward with our community asset transfer application to NHS Tayside for the site.
“A garden has the potential of helping many people in the community whose lives are adversely affected by health issues and we have been in contact with Solardome, suppliers of geodesic domes, looking at the potential a dome can have in enabling many people in our community enjoy a better quality of life.”
The first geodesic dome was unveiled at the World’s Fair in 1967 in Montreal, Canada, and has since been deemed the sustainable home of the future.
The geodesic dome was first imagined by Walther Bauersfeld after the Great War.
Bauersfeld, who was chief engineer of lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss, created the first dome out of triangles to house his own home planetarium.
But it wasn’t until 20 years later that the shape was popularised by architect and inventor R Buckminster Fuller.
Concerns have been raised about the size of the Brechin Infirmary site and its long-term maintenance.
The group made an application in July for a grant from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) which included the valuation and survey costs of the site.
To resubmit its application in November, SLF wants the group to demonstrate further community support and conduct appropriate surveys to identify the value and costs for renovating the building.
Mr Lockhart added: “We are delighted at the generous pledges on our crowd funding page, donations to our treasurer and money received in the collecting boxes in a number of shops in Brechin and Edzell, clearly demonstrating the community’s support for the project.
“We are moving towards our target but are not there yet. Continued support from the community and beyond is vital.”
He said they will reach their target by the end of October only if the early support continues.
The crowd funding page can be found on the group’s Facebook page.
