In the beginning the Community Hall grounds consisted of some 2.2 acres of back filled and partly levelled earth and rubble. For the first 27 years around ¼ acre at the road edge was mowed and the steep banking strimmed by volunteers, the balance was left to grow wild with scrub and reeds which was added to with garden refuse and the usual collection of discarded household furnishings.

In 1996 Euan Harper (Local councillor) and Jim Leslie treasurer of Kilmallie Hall formed the Kilmallie Initiative to further community projects the main one being the regeneration of the ground at the hall.

The plan to build a Public Garden accessible to all and transform the centre of the village began with a design contest with the winning design by Calum Anton being adopted and funds raised to carry out the work. This created a Public Garden with Play Area, Pathways, Interpretation Boards on the Great Glen / Caledonian Canal & The Road to the Isles, a Geological Display, planting of trees, shrubs & bulbs, bringing life back into the heart of the village for locals and visitors alike to enjoy and all disabled friendly, prior to the completion of the Geological Display a Time Capsule was buried under the centre stone by the children of Banavie School. This reclaimed some 65% of the ground available and exhausted the funding in hand.

On completion of the first phase, an open day was held when the gardens project was named THE JIM LESLIE GARDENS for his vision and dedication to the project and his work on behalf of the community over the years.

Having achieved completion of the first part of the project, the fight started anew to complete the work one way or another, the aim always to be 100% disabled friendly. Clearance of the area being the first priority work was started by one or two volunteers levelling the picnic area and starting to clear undergrowth at the path edges, A major clearance of the area was undertaken by members of the Princes Trust (Maryhill Glasgow) and local volunteers including two disabled teenagers and their supporter, this led to a week long battle in blistering heat to make inroads in to the clearance of the jungle of accumulated vegetation and debris. On the last day they were joined by pupils from Banavie school to help plant out flower and shrub beds two of which are now the memorial flower beds which are planted in memory of two disabled girl swimmers and the father of one who died in a car accident on their way to take part in a swimming gala. Following the departure of the Princes Trust work continued on clearance with the assistance from local voluntary groups, such as Su Sen of Lochaber Action on Disability & Lochaber Air Training Corps, while a revue on the design was mulled over by volunteers involved in the project. As the clearance and design progressed, an application was sent to The Beechgrove Garden “HIT SQUAD” at BBC Scotland. This successful application led to their involvement in part of the project and a feature in their TV programme. The design changed as clearance of the ground went on resulting in what you see around you today as you take a stroll through this community project. The project also won an Environmental Regeneration Award a feather in the cap to all who worked so hard.

The completed project features Pathways, Play area, Interpretation Boards, Geological display, Memorial flower beds, Raised flower beds, Maze, Picnic area, Scottish woodland walk, Heather bed, Indian friendship grove, Oriental Garden, View point, Boat planter, Community beds, Memorial seats and many other features to take your eye as you walk around, the prize being that it is accessible to all what ever your abilities or disabilities.

All this in one of the most scenic areas of Scotland, where else can you stand and view Britain’s highest mountain Ben Nevis the Caledonian Canal and a panoramic view over Loch Linnhe to Historic Fort William, Glen Nevis and the start of the Great Glen, and an added bonus of the Jacobite Steam Train heading for Mallaig at the bottom of the garden.

The final reward to all who worked on this community project was when H. R. H. The Princess Royal agreed to perform the opening ceremony of the second phase of this community project on 14 th October 1999.

The second phase of the garden was a triumph of community involvement supported by Individuals, The Kilmallie Initiative, Local Business’s , Local Area Committee, CO-OP Dividend Scheme, The Highland Council and the Volunteers who toiled uncomplainingly regardless of Lochaber’s weather. The completed second phase is being maintained by the Voluntary Groups and Individuals who worked long and hard to make it a success.