GULLANE Bloomers is fundraising to help the group through lockdown, which has left it struggling to raise the cash it needs to keep the village looking beautiful.

Volunteer Lorna Raeburn started the campaign and is hoping to raise £2,000 so that Gullane Bloomers can continue planting flowers, keep up with maintenance of tubs and baskets and “keep Gullane Main Street looking colourful and glorious for both visitors and residents”.

Lorna usually raises money through fundraising events and leaflet drops, which have been unable to take place due to the pandemic, or grants from local groups and businesses.

A JustGiving page she started, as suggested by a friend, has led to donations by local residents and businesses.

Some of the work the money will pay for includes replanting tubs and planters in the village with new summer bedding, ordering new compost and ordering new hanging baskets.

However, Lorna admitted that she would have to cut back a bit and there would be fewer plants and baskets than usual, due to a lack of funds.

She said: “We had a lot of tubs, planters and baskets last year so it’s a shame we’ve had to cut back really, especially since we’ve done so well the past two years.”

Lorna, who lives on the village’s Goose Green Road, is also hoping to raise money for the Blue Stane project, which will see the area located to the south of the public toilets on Goose Green Road tidied up and benefiting from new plants, a path and different themed areas.

East Lothian Council will strip the area before the work is carried out.

Lorna said: “It would be good if there was a sitting area there that people could use. I want it to be wheelchair friendly as well.”

The community council donated £500, which will be used to build a seat around the tree.

This will allow up to six people to sit and enjoy the area once work has been completed.

Lorna appealed for builders or anyone willing to donate items towards the project to come forward; she can be contaced on telephone number 07740 987116.

She added that more volunteers were needed to help water the plants, and anyone interested was also asked to get in touch.

So far, more than £1,200 has been raised, which has allowed new summer bedding and 12 hanging baskets to be ordered and planted.

The money has also paid for a new outside tap, which was installed outside the public toilets by East Lothian Council and will make watering the plants, tubs and baskets easier.

Anyone wishing to donate can do so at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lorna-raeburn