Brighter Bervie

Certificate of Recognition
Brighter Bervie is a constituted community volunteer group which aims to brighten-up the ancient Royal Burgh, largely through communal gardening activities. They have planted and maintain several community gardens linked by an easy walking trail. They work with Bervie Primary School pupils and staff, and people of all ages and abilities to encourage them and others to appreciate the therapeutic benefits of gardens and gardening. The group’s activities are also aimed at nurturing the natural environment and sustaining the native flora and fauna.
In 2018, Brighter Bervie won the 'RHS Scotland Award for Overcoming Adversity' - for its work on invasive species:
Inverbervie, like many coastal and riverside communities in Scotland has witnessed the slow ingress of invasive species; in this case, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and American Mink. In an effort to make the tackling of such issues more effective, the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative (SISI) was set up within Scottish National Heritage in Winter 2017 as a four-year project. Lottery Funding of £3.5 million has been set aside for this initiative, with the funding being held by SNH for the Local Fishery Boards. In Inverbervie, members of the community are being trained and funded to formal qualification standards. In addition, large work parties of volunteers have gathered to physically pull the Himalayan Balsam and success is already being felt.