I Heart UTG
Fraser Denholm has posted an amazing article about the ongoing campaign to save Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen city centre. You can read it: Here.
If you would like to sign the petition then you can do so: Here
If you would like to know more about Peacock Visual Arts and the proposed new Contemporary Arts Centre which is also under threat then you can visit: Here
Finally, if you want to get involved in the campaign to save UTG then go: Here and join their facebook group: Here
Personally, I feel very strongly about Union Terrace Gardens. I’ve never bought the spiel that they are underused and the space could be better used for some kind of magical civic square.
When I lived in the centre of town I regularly used the gardens as an oasis away from the bustle of Union Street, if only to walk through them on my way home or even just to eat a sandwich at lunchtime. I was never alone. If anyone under-uses this magnificent space then it is Aberdeen City Council, who seem to have forgotten that they have a city centre space to be proud of and capable of hosting events and celebrations. We all fondly remember the millennium Ice Rink and numerous summer concerts in the gardens.
No one is saying that the gardens are perfect, far from it, but concreting over them and building more shops is not the answer. The Arts centre would breathe live into a wonderful green space and be there for everyone to enjoy. Far from merely being of interest to the ‘Artsy Fartsy’ portion of the city, a cultural heart, just down the road from HMT, would provide stimulus for the entire region. We just have to look at Dundee Contemporary Arts for proof of this.
I’ve sat in Union Terrace for hours watching Peregrine Falcons, magnificent displays of Starlings(sure to end if we put a roof over their roost), Robins, Sparrows, loads of other wonderful small birds and of course the gulls and pigeons, all enjoying this wonderful natural space that we’ve been so proud of for years and years. I learned photography in Union Terrace Gardens. They are our gardens, not Sir Ian Woods.
Let’s see the council show some imagination, say no to the big name and yes to the people. A revitalised Union Terrace Gardens with a Contemporary Arts Centre is what we want, not concrete, shops and a car park.
Well put.
I have made a link to this on my facebook page, hopefully others will see it and agree.
I also like your photography, its a hobby I have taken up recently.
All in all, you have a great blog here.
thanks very much john!
Right on, David, I concur wholeheartedly! I suppose you know that the more heavily treed area up beside the Union St bridge was known long ago before the gardens as the ‘Corbie Haugh’ – and the well was called the Corbie Well, all because of the corvids! It’s bad enough they’ve hidden the Denburn, Aberdeen’s original water source, but to choke out our last green space in the city!! Criminal. I’m sure if Donald Trump told the New Yorkers he was going to concrete over Central Park there would be an OUTCRY!
We need our own ‘central’ park! But we have a council that is no longer accountable to its citizens, so we’ve got to campaign firstly to get them OUT.
best wishes
FJ
thanks for that fiona-jane, i didn’t know that. always nice to learn something else about the city!
further to Fiona-Jane’s post, “Corbie” is an old Scots word for “Crow” who (and still do) nested in the numerous Elm trees. “Haugh” meaning “hill”.
Hope you don’t mind Dave, but I’ve stolen your links for an email myself, my issue is the amount of people I’ve spoken to who are unaware of this….
fine by me colin, anything that helps spread the word!