Local heroine

The neighbourhood where I live has no natural focal point, like a cafe, so it is not that easy to meet the neighbours. We do have a grassy stretch along the water's edge which is beautiful when the weather is fine - and wild when it is not. Around a dozen of us met there for a shared, almost impromptu, picnic lunch s part of The Big Lunch initiative.

I love the ritual of sharing food in the open air, eating with your hands and inviting anyone passing by to join in. It felt like bringing a little bit of Africa to Scotland - minus the heat. Something about feeding people who have come unprepared and empty-handed fills my soul, a little taste of community.

This is Alison who is part of a small and dedicated group of people who clean the beach every Friday come rain or shine. Alison is a lot prettier than this, but she is also very serious about what she does. As a retired biologist she knows and cares about what we are doing to the environment.