If there is one man in Thurso determined to ensure the town is ‘bloomin’ marvellous’ for the 2026 season, it is Alexander Glasgow.
The community-minded activist is currently in the thick of planting season, moving between his own arboretum and the riverbanks to “establish a green canopy for the burgh”.
Working alongside fellow “treeophile” Iain Maclean, Alexander has been busy transforming forgotten corners of the town into ecological havens.
Alex Glasgow pictured recently with his colourful flower planters in Thurso town centre. Picture: DGSIain Maclean planting alders in Thurso this spring.
The latest phase of the project has seen 6-foot alders planted on the riverbank directly in front of the Thurso fire station. The location has a quirky history: in the 1950s, it was a concrete-based paddling pool that fed into the boating pond. Although it was filled in during the mid-70s, the concrete base was never cracked, leaving a water-logged “bowl” that proved a headache for traditional gardening but a paradise for alders.
“Alders thrive in boggy ground,” Alexander explained. “Along the river edge, or riparian zone, they also provide vital shade for spawning fish from the heat of the sun. Thurso River has lost a lot of her green canopy over recent decades, and we are trying to bring that back.”
Alexander Glasgow proves his greefingered credentials once again and has been busy planting alder trees to bring a green canopy to the town.
The move also saved several trees Alexander had tucked away. “When I told someone I’d found some trees I’d forgotten about, the reply was: ‘How can you forget you had trees? You’re not John Thurso!'”
It isn’t just the river seeing a transformation. Visitors to Rotterdam Street and the pedestrian zone will have noticed a series of rustic barrel planters appearing outside shops.
These were gifted by Northpoint Distillery and are currently serving as “halfway houses” for small oaks and Japanese cherries. These trees will stay in the barrels for this season before being moved to permanent spots in the town.
Green canopy on Rotterdam Street with bear garlic.Alder juveniles with a Garfield plush for scale.
Alexander’s arboretum is currently a treasure trove of future greenery, housing more oaks, horse chestnuts, and yews waiting for their moment in the Thurso sun.
His long-term goal is to see a community woodland that rivals the famous River Ness islands in Inverness.
Alder whips in the ‘Aslan table’ ready for 2028.
“It’s a small start by a few people who care, but the change will be seen this year alone,” he says.
“In that undefinable zone between blue and green health, you find yourself immersed in a landscape of dryads. We are all keen to see a proper community woodland here.”
With dozens more 2-3 foot alders purchased in an end-of-season sale, the planting is set to continue well into 2027, ensuring Thurso’s burgeoning green canopy grows stronger every year.
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