The challenge of gardening by the seaside is being enjoyed as part of a Safe Promenade initiative launched by the Fisherrow Harbour & Seafront Association (FHSA).

Local residents, groups of friends and community organisations quickly signed up to 'Adopt a Planter,' snapping up the chance to fill and tend the initial 22 floral containers on the Promenade.

Claire Tochel, volunteer seafront co-manager, said: "They indicated that they’d like to grow a range of plants including wild flowers to attract bees and butterflies, hardy coastal plants such as sea holly and brachyglottis, and a range of edible plants including herbs and strawberries."

She explained: "FHSA responded to feedback during a consultation on its Safe Promenade initiative by seeking a more sturdy and attractive alternative to the temporary orange barriers being used to separate vehicles and pedestrians.

"FHSA asked East Lothian Council whether they could provide some planters, inspiring a trial community project in which people would be invited to 'Adopt a Planter' for the year. Volunteers built enough additional planters to mark out a traffic-free path from the east Prom onto the harbour for this first stage.

"We’re delighted at the level of interest in our 'Adopt a Planter' scheme. We already have a waiting list for further planters when the Safe Promenade trial is extended across the harbour. It’s wonderful to see the variety of plants now on display – every planter is unique and reflects the individuals and groups who have taken on the challenge of gardening by the sea."

She explained that the Fisherrow Safe Promenade initiative aimed to create a traffic-free space for pedestrians and wheelchair users, and slow cyclists from east to west across the harbour. She said the proposed changes would also increase the number of parking spaces for visitors with disabilities. She added that the harbour was part of the 134 mile John Muir coast to coast walkway and the association was keen to avoid people having to share this space with moving vehicles, after several reports of "near misses."

She said consultation would continue as the project developed, with regular review from the the council's roads team to ensure proposed layout changes meet requirements. When the design was complete, the council would amend line painting to make the new layout safe and clear for everyone, she added.

Fiona Osborne was one of the first to 'Adopt a Planter.'

She said: "One of the reasons I wanted to do this was the chance to meet different people and it has been fantastic. Other people planting but also just people walking past have shown loads of interest, asking what we’re doing.

"I’m a home economics teacher so I considered growing herbs for cooking but I’ve decided to go for hardy plants that can cope with the salty air. I’ve started with very young plants mostly grown from seed by my friend whose dad was a Musselburgh fisherman, which is why I chose a planter close to the fishermen statues. I like this approach, you get a sense of ownership and you can see them developing, it’s such a rewarding thing to do.

"As a busy working parent you don’t always have time to do these things but I think lockdown has changed a lot of attitudes. This has been a good reason to come out into the fresh air and do something productive."