Volunteers are helping to breathe new life into one of Motherwell’s most distinctive landmarks as restoration work continues at the Japanese Garden in Dalzell Estate.
The picturesque garden, which has been a feature of the estate for more than a century, was relocated to its current site during the 1920s. However, in more recent times the garden had fallen into disrepair with years of weathering, natural overgrowth and vandalism taking their toll on parts of the site.
Restoration Efforts Led by Kenny Ritchie
The restoration project has been led for the past three years by Kenny Ritchie, who works with Scottish charity Phoenix Futures, an organisation that supports individuals, families and communities across Scotland. Through its volunteering and community programmes, Phoenix Futures encourages people to make a positive difference in their local areas and develop valuable skills through practical projects.
Kenny recently reached out to local businesses to seek additional support for the ambitious restoration effort, prompting local volunteers from Kwik Fit and North Lanarkshire Council to lend a hand and help preserve the garden for future generations.
He said: “This project has been a real labour of love over the last three years. The support we’ve received from the council and Kwik Fit has been fantastic. Every hour of work helps bring the garden closer to its former glory and ensures that future generations can enjoy this special place of tranquillity.”
Kwik Fit Volunteers Focus on Sustainability
The Kwik Fit volunteers came from across the business, including the Master Manager and technicians from Kwik-Fit Motherwell & Airdrie and employees based in the company’s Customer Experience Function in Bellshill. Throughout the project, Kwik-Fit volunteers were focused on sustainability in their approach - bringing their own gardening tools and equipment and using shredded bark, a natural and environmentally friendly material, to improve pathways and planting areas while supporting the long-term maintenance of the garden.
Karen Reid, Strategic Account Manager at Kwik Fit, led the company’s involvement in the project. She said: “We were delighted to be able to play a part in the restoration project. We are focused on supporting our communities in ways beyond simply keeping them safe on the road. Helping to make the garden a more welcoming environment for local people to enjoy fits our ethos perfectly.”
Community Praise and Historical Significance
The project has been praised by North Lanarkshire Provost Kenneth Duffy, who commended everyone involved in the restoration effort. He said: “The commitment shown by Kenny Ritchie, Phoenix Futures, Kwik Fit volunteers and our own council staff involved in this project has been outstanding. By working together, they are preserving an important part of Motherwell’s heritage and ensuring that it can be enjoyed by the local community for years to come. They should all be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”
Among the garden’s most significant surviving features are its historic stone steps, which once led visitors to a small tea house designed in the shape of a traditional Japanese temple. The structure has long since disappeared, but the steps – which were based on those leading to the Temple of Buddha in Nagasaki, Japan – remain an important link to the garden’s original design.
Kenny and his squad of dedicated volunteers hope that the revived Japanese Garden will once again become a much-loved local attraction within Dalzell Estate, allowing residents and visitors alike to enjoy this special place which has endured for more than 100 years.
