Milngavie in Bloom

Milngavie in Bloom was formed in 2008 and won a Beautiful Scotland Gold in 2019. Since then, they have been keeping their town 'clean and green'. The group works closely with East Dunbartonshire Council and also works in partnership with Milngavie Town Centre BID Ltd, Milngavie Community Development Trust, Bearsden & Milngavie Ramblers and many other community groups. They have gradually brought back to life neglected beds and hidden corners, enhancing their town while protecting the local environment

In 2019, Milngavie in Bloom won the 'VisitScotland Discretionary Award for Tourism': It is well known internationally that Milngavie is the starting point of the West Highland Way, Scotland’s first long distance walking route that was officially opened by Lord Mansfield at Balmaha on 6 October 1980. Each year since, tens of thousands of walkers complete the entire length of 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William or tackle a section of the Way. Until recently, apart from the granite obelisk in the pedestrian precinct, there was little else to signify the importance of the Way to Milngavie or recognise the contribution of the late Tom Hunter, who first proposed the Way. Inspired by the statue erected at Balmaha to the late Tom Weir, climber, author and broadcaster, Milngavie in Bloom decided to rectify this situation. As a result of some very generous donations, the group commissioned a statue in the profile of a striding walker. East Dunbartonshire Council cleared the raised bed located on one of the main roads into Milngavie and the group contacted local companies who kindly donated a membrane, laid gravel and boulders, constructed a concrete base, installed the statue and planted the bed with a variety of plants and a slate path to symbolise the typical landscape of the Way. The group has also commissioned a plaque to inform residents and walkers about the statue and held a ceremony to dedicate the statue to the memory of Tom Hunter.