Finbracken1: Mrs Paterson, with her family and ACHA and AHFA reps and the new bench at Finbracken
Finbracken2: Front page of the Observer when the tress were removed
A SERIES of upgrades at Finbracken, Sandbank, has given the estate a new lease of life, with works completed by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA).
The project was funded through ACHA’s Exemplar Estates Fund, set up in 2020 to enhance the environment and outdoor spaces around tenants’ homes.
Improvements included new windows, external wall insulation and balcony refurbishments, alongside a reconfigured car park, new drying areas and modern bin stores.
A sensitive element of the scheme involved the removal of two 45-metre trees that had become dangerously unstable. The trees were planted in 1935 by John Gillespie to mark the birth of his twin daughters, Margaret and Mary, and were of deep sentimental value locally.
Following consultation with the Gillespie family and residents, the decision was taken to fell the trees on safety grounds.
To honour their legacy, 12 new trees have been planted and a hand-carved bench, made from the original timber and designed with input from the family, has been installed.
An information plaque telling the story of the trees—and their significance to the estate—was unveiled by Mrs Margaret Paterson (née Gillespie), alongside an information board.
ACHA said the works aim to improve comfort and kerb appeal for tenants while preserving the area’s heritage.
