THE headlines scream ‘recession!’ and service cuts are looming. Much of what we’ve previously taken for granted quite simply doesn’t get done anymore.
In Greece, feelings about the service cuts ran so high that they took to the streets in violent protest.
In Kirn, feelings run equally high - but for the dedicated volunteers who care about keeping Kirn a pleasant and vibrant community, the weapons of choice are spades, watering cans and rubbish bags.
Who cares about Kirn? EnviroKirn does. The group was established in 1999, during similarly lean times when not much was being done to keep the village looking good. And, in just a few short years, they turned the area around, to the extent that Kirn regularly features in the Beautiful Scotland shortlist.
Now, just over ten years later, the group volunteers are calling upon their fellow local residents to join them in showing that despite recessions and cuts, people power can still get things done and keep Kirn beautiful - all that’s needed is a dose of restored civic pride, a dash of elbow grease and a daub of willing spirit.
EnviroKirn members met last week to discuss how to move forward and encourage more Kirn residents to get involved.
“In the past, shopkeepers and householders would take it on themselves to tidy up pavements and so on, but no one seems prepared to do that anymore,” said one member.
“The local authority is apparently lacking in funds so someone has to do it - or the area just falls into disrepair and looks neglected.
“There is an argument that the more people do, the less the council will do - but at the moment, no one is doing it at all, and that’s simply not good enough.”
Cuts are inevitable and that means changes - with the more aesthetic aspects of community life, like weeding and planting, becoming less essential for cash-strapped councils. EnviroKirn’s volunteers are saying: instead of sitting back and accepting a poorer quality of community life, let’s take a bit of time and effort to do something about it ourselves.
The small group of volunteers achieves amazing results each year, both in terms of what they do in the village and in raising funds. If more people became involved, in whatever way they can, the results could be quite phenomenal.
Members are full of exciting ideas for Kirn’s future - but they do need the help of their fellow residents. And this help could be as simple as taking the time to clean or weed the pavement or walls outside your garden; offering to do the same for someone else who can’t manage; or looking out for other areas of the village where a little bit of time and effort might just make all the difference.
“The ones who will benefit most are you, the residents of Kirn,” say the volunteers. “Ultimately this might help to stimulate the village and encourage new businesses to set up here again.”
One EnviroKirn member was inspired to pen a verse - hoping to inspire, in turn, Kirn friends and neighbours to renew their pride in their village:
The Day of Judgement is Nigh
Have you heard that the judges are coming
From Beautiful Scotland in Bloom?
It’s time to tidy the village so get out
Your paintbrush and your broom,
Sweep down your path or your pavement
And freshen that tired old paint;
Put out a new floral arrangement
Be it modern, post modern or quaint.
And it’s not just the prom they’re inspecting.
They’ll be going all over the place.
It’s litter free streets they’re expecting -
And no weeds - they’re a perfect disgrace.
Good people of Kirn, in your village take pride
And show other folk how we care.
With this charming wee spot on the banks of the Clyde
Surely no other place can compare?
Who cares about Kirn? If you do, please get in touch with EnviroKirn (see village shops for details) or have a look and see what you could do to show you care.
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