Scottish community gardening groups recognised at UK awards

Groups from our Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network have been recognised at a UK awards ceremony.  

Four groups from the network - Brighten up Kirkconnel (Dumfries and Galloway), North Berwick in Bloom (East Lothian), Cardross Organic Community Garden (Argyll and Bute) and Blooming Haddington (East Lothian) were in attendance at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom finals at Rochdale Town Hall on 20 October 2026. 

North Berwick in Bloom won the Coastal category and also received a Gold certificate. 

Cardross Organic Community Garden were winners of the Railway Stations in Bloom RHS Community Award, a new award added to the Community Awards in 2026. 

Blooming Haddington also received a Gold certificate. 

Brighten up Kirkconnel was recognised with a Silver Gilt and the group's Gary Hughes received a Community Champion award. 

While North Berwick in Bloom and Blooming Haddington were making a return to the finals, the ceremony marked a first appearance for Brighten up Kirkconnel. 

Groups received a visit from the UK judges in August this year, following their previous success at the 2025 Beautiful Scotland awards. The groups were judged on criteria with the environment, community engagement and horticulture at their core. 

Each group is part of our Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network, working hard to grow and improve their local community and environment.  

Juliette Camburn, our Senior Officer, Community Initiatives, said: “Seeing our groups recognised on a UK stage is always wonderful and I’m delighted to see some returning as well as one entrant making their first appearance at the finals.  

“Reaching the Britain in Bloom finals is a fantastic achievement and these four groups thoroughly deserve to be here for the brilliant work they do in their communities.  

"We are so lucky to have people all over the country within our network and they all deserve recognition in their own right, but I'm especially proud of these three groups for reaching the UK finals and their success at the ceremony. Well done to them all.” 

Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood, part of our Climate and Nature Friendly Communities Network, are run in association with the Royal Horticultural Society, and feed into the annual Britain in Bloom competition.  

The network provides community gardening groups with mentor visits, support and advice throughout the year to help improve growing practices for the benefit of the our climate, nature and people in local communities.  

Click here for more information if you're interested in joining.