The Late Show

Here we are, more than halfway through April and only now are we seeing our plants beginning to brighten up. Looking back over our records since spring 2014, our bulbs, baskets and planters were at this stage between three and four weeks earlier. But at last, the corner has been turned! If there's any justice maybe they'll last at least three weeks longer this year. Does anyone want to bet on it?

RUNAWAY WINNER

Brighter Bridge of Weir's Chair, Neil Thomson, celebrated a birthday recently. (No, not his centenary.) An enthusastic runner, Neil had set himself a target to complete 100 'Parkruns' - organised 5 kilometre runs in public parks - before his special birthday. Here's what the Parkrun organisers had to say about it:

"This week one of our parkrunners had a double celebration going on! Neil Thomson turned 70 during the week, and timed it well to complete his 100th parkrun as part of his celebrations. Neil has completed 78 parkruns at Greenock, with the other 22 taking place at Linwood, Pollock, Inverness, Bideford and Leamington. Neil's running club, the Kilmacolm Unoffical Running Club were out in force with banners and balloons aswell as 100 cupcakes to help Neil celebrate. Well done Neil, here's to the next 100!"

BRANCHING OUT

Regular followers will remember that last autumn, we teamed up with the Community Council and the Tree Charter campaign. The aim was that for every signature we got on the Charter, a tree would be planted.

Well, the signatures are in and this year we start. In Partnership with Renfrewshire Council and others, Brighter Bridge of Weir will be looking at sites throughout the village to begin planting. This is the start of a long-term project that will benefit not only our village but, ultimately, the entire planet.

If you have any ideas of your own about the types of tree you'd like and where to plant them, why not get in touch with us?