Groups celebrated with Community Awards

Groups across Scotland have been recognised at an online celebration for their work to make their communities more climate and nature friendly. 

Fourteen groups, all part of our Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network, were celebrated on 14 October. 

From the 250 groups currently registered within the network these 14 groups were nominated by the charity’s volunteer judges and assessors and received a subsequent level of achievement – Highly Commended, Runner Up or Winner – at the Scottish level of 5 different UK-wide community award categories.  

The award categories, developed and delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful in association with the Royal Horticultural Society, were community engagement, gardening with young people, sustainable gardening, health and wellbeing, and gardening for wildlife.

The groups recognised were:

• Organic Flowers of Fairlie - Community Engagement Award - Winner
• North Berwick in Bloom - Community Engagement Award - Runner up
• Friends of the Barnshill Rock Garden - Community Engagement Award - Highly commended
• Earlston in Bloom - Community Engagement Award - Highly commended
• Brighter Bothwell - Community Engagement Award - Highly commended
• FARE Community Allotment - Gardening for Health & Wellbeing - Winner
• Brighter Bervie - Gardening for Health & Wellbeing - Runner up
• Ury Riverside Park SCIO - Gardening for Wildlife - Winner
• Riverside Naturally - Gardening for Wildlife - Runner up
• Carluke Community High Mill and Garden - Gardening with Young People - Winner
• Blooming Inverkip - Gardening with Young People - Runner up
• Flourishing Forth - Sustainable Gardening Award - Winner
• Friends of Barshaw Park - Sustainable Gardening Award - Runner up
• Beith Community Food Garden - Sustainable Gardening Award - Highly commended

The winner of each award has now been put forward to the RHS Britain in Bloom UK-wide selection panel, and will find out how well they’ve done at the UK Britain in Bloom Award Ceremony on 31 October. 

Juliette Camburn, our Senior Officer, Community Initiatives, said: “I am delighted to see so many of our groups honoured in such a variety of categories at this year’s Community Awards. 

“Every group in the Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network strives to keep their towns and villages thriving and blossoming, so it’s wonderful to see groups the breadth of Scotland receive the recognition they deserve. 

“It’s crucial that these groups and our network’s successes are celebrated as the impact it has on our environment is substantial and continues to make Scotland even more beautiful.” 

Almost 250 groups across Scotland are supported, recognised and celebrated through the Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network. 

Find out more about the network here.