Staff at the new Inspirations shop which replaced the old ArCas premises are; Jan Atkins who runs a Reiki salon, Ann Cameron, owner Sandra Bentley, manageress Joan Willcock and Marjorie Climie.
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Steal magnolias
Spring is upon us and the flowers are coming into bloom. In Brodick Castle gardens there are ever improving displays of rhododendrons, magnolias and camelias. But skulduggery is afoot and the most attractive of flowers, the camelia, is being stolen. Sinister characters are coming by dead of night and, equipped with spades and fast vehicles, are making off with the young plants.
Head gardener Nigel Price says that occasional thefts from the gardens are not uncommon but more organised crimes like this has not previously happened. The typical theft is an elderly lady equipped with a pair of scissors and a plastic bag inside her handbag. She can then innocently admire plants and take the odd cutting in passing. Digging up plants in the dead of night, however, is a new thing and police have been alerted, and are said to be keeping watch and will prosecute.
Nigel said: ‘The Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh have their own police force, specifically for plant-lifters. I like those with green fingers, but not people with light green fingers.’