A POPULAR Clacks garden centre which offers horticultural therapy for autistic adults is opening its doors for the first time in more than two years.

Scottish Autism is delighted to announce that its popular Gartinny Nursery will reopen its doors this Saturday, April 16 between the hours of 10am and 4pm, and will continue to open every Saturday thereafter.

This operational garden centre offers horticultural therapy to autistic adults who are supported to fully participate in the running of Gartinny and are valued for their contribution.

Gartinny has been closed to members of the public since the beginning of the pandemic but in previous years the plants produced have been extremely popular with local people in Clackmannanshire.

Dorry McLaughlin, chief executive of Scottish Autism, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be reopening Gartinny Nursery for the first time in over two years this Saturday.

"Gartinny is where we provide activities in a real work setting for autistic adults who are encouraged towards a more independent lifestyle and improved quality of life.

"I recommend the garden centre highly as a keen gardener myself and the general public have always been very supportive of the garden centre and recognise the high quality of the produce.

"We will be delighted to open our doors again and hope local people will show their support for us this Spring."

Steven McVicar, autism practitioner at Gartinny Nurseries, added: “It’s giving us a lot more work to do but it’s going to be exciting having not done this for two years.

"I’m sure it will be fantastic when we get back into the swing of things."

Gartinny can be found at Woodhead Place in Coalsnaughton.

Visit scottishautism.org for more information.