Forres in Bloom SCIO

At Forres in Bloom SCIO, they provide floral features throughout the town. This includes beds, boxes, tubs, and window boxes to make the town attractive for residents and visitors. They work with many groups in the community and involve young people in their work. They also have youth groups volunteering with them on a regular basis e.g. Air Training Cadets and Brownies.

In 2024, Forres in Bloom was one of four of our groups representing Scotland in the UK RHS Britain in Bloom finals. Find out more. The group was recognised with a Gold medal certificate and won the Town category! Barry Ashby, a member of Forres in Bloom, was presented with a Community Champion Award. Read the full story

In 2023, Forres in Bloom won the Community Horticulture Discretionary Award: The group’s planting displays, with a mix of permanent planting and seasonal planting is quite stunning. Plant cuttings are made in Autumn, and taken to the greenhouse which is lined with bubble wrap to keep it frost free. They also split and divide herbaceous plants to plant in other areas of the town, and the amount of work this group does is quite outstanding. The group has taken on the maintenance of most of the planted areas which used to be maintained by the local authority, and also some of the grass maintenance.

In 2021, Forres in Bloom were joint winners of the Community Horticulture Award: Forres in Bloom has a long-standing commitment to improving the local environment. Initially this was through traditional floral displays, but the group have adapted as times have changed, taking on more responsibilities as council resources for horticultural displays have diminished. The group have maintained their high standards whilst extending the breadth of their work to include work with children and to include more sustainable environmental practice.

In 2019, Forres in Bloom won the 'Jim Murdie Trophy for Sustainability': The group celebrated its 30^th anniversary this year and was honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service which recognises the sustainability of the group.  Over the years the group has faced adversity and, with the support of the community, has continued to thrive.  Since 2013 Moray Council has given the group the use of a rundown former depot which it has regenerated to create a professional standard nursery which allows it to grow all the plants required for displays throughout the town. The financial support from residents and businesses allows the group to show that ‘We Love Where We Live’.