Success for Scottish community groups at Britain in Bloom UK Finals

Keep Scotland Beautiful is thrilled to announce that North Berwick in Bloom achieved a Gold Medal and won the Coastal Category, and that Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow achieved a Gold Medal in the Town Category at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Britain in Bloom UK Finals, held in RHS Lindley Hall, London on 10 October.

Additionally, Libby Morris, Chair of North Berwick in Bloom was one of 11 people from across the UK to be awarded a Community Champion Award, recognising her exceptional commitment and dedication to the ‘bloom’ cause in her community.

We are delighted to have the Britain in Bloom UK Finals back after a hiatus last year and were excited to be there in person along with both Scottish groups to celebrate greening and growing across the country.

North Berwick in Bloom and Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow members joined volunteers from 44 other groups from across the UK to compete across eight categories to be selected as the cleanest, greenest and most beautiful place in the UK, and were the two Scottish entrants selected as Britain in Bloom finalists, following their success at the Beautiful Scotland Awards last year. 

Beautiful Scotland is run by Keep Scotland Beautiful in partnership with the RHS and brings communities together to help clean up and beautify the places that matter to them. It recognises the efforts of volunteers across Scotland as they work to enhance their own community, creating more sustainable neighbourhoods for people, places and wildlife.

Juliette Camburn, Community Projects Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:  “We are delighted that Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow is bringing home Gold and that North Berwick in Bloom has scooped the Coastal Category Award in the 2022 Britain in Bloom finals. This is a massive achievement and presents another opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the volunteers who make a significant contribution towards helping to improve their local environment. We love their commitment to keeping their part of Scotland beautiful and would like to thank them for all they do.”

Libby Morris, Chair of North Berwick in Bloom, said: “We were delighted to be one of two Scottish entries into the RHS Britain in Bloom competition for 2022 – but to win our category is very special. The challenges of the last two years brought out the best in our community, and many different organisations worked together to make our town look beautiful and cared for. It was a huge privilege to be chosen to represent Scotland.”

Now in its 58th year, the nationwide competition brings together rural villages, urban areas and city centres to compete with one another across a range of criteria that includes horticultural know-how, community engagement, efforts to improve biodiversity and climate change adaptation. All entrants were visited by a team of RHS national judges in August.

Further information about Beautiful Scotland and how to take part can be found at: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/beautifulscotland

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Notes to editors

1. Keep Scotland Beautiful is your charity for the environment.  We work with you to help combat climate change, reduce litter and waste and protect and enhance the places we care for.  Further details at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org
2. Keep Scotland Beautiful is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO): Number SC030332.
3. Keep Scotland Beautiful supports the ambitions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, or Global Goals.
4. Media enquiries to press@keepscotlandbeautiful.org, Suzanne Roberts on 07730 289225.