THE

TIMES

Special Souvenir 2013 Edition

Year on year it is wonderful to see the results of local authorities and so many volunteers who work tirelessly to make their part of Scotland a cleaner, greener, more sustainable place to live, work and visit. Keep Scotland Beautiful is proud to award these efforts.

Trophy winners Premier Award The Rosebowl Beautiful Perth Dufftown in Bloom Pitlochry in Bloom St Andrews in Bloom Class Awards City – Aberdeen in Bloom Small City – Beautiful Cumbernauld Large Town – Beautiful Perth Medium Town – Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow Small Town – Pitlochry in Bloom Urban Community – Dyce in Bloom Flatted Community – Restalrig & Lochend House Residents Association Coastal Town – St Andrews in Bloom Coastal Village – St Monans Large Village – Dufftown in Bloom Small Village – Muthill in Bloom Wee Village – Beautiful Kilconquhar Business Improvement District – 4 All Discretionary Awards New Entrant Trophy – Growing Kirkcaldy Community Horticultural Award – Comrie in Colour Jim Murdie Trophy for Permanent Landscaping – Aberdeen in Bloom (Duthie Park) Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society Trophy – Carnoustie Community Council (War Memorial) The Wright Sustainability Award – Beautiful Perth (Friarton Recycling Education Project) Visit Scotland Award for Tourism – Wigtown in Bloom Scottish Natural Heritage Biodiversity Award – Brighter Bothwell (Organic Community Garden) Community Involvement Award – Plains Community Futures Group (Community Allotment) David Welch Memorial for Something Special – Newburgh in Bloom (Edible Project)

www.beautifulscotland.org City Large Town

Aberdeen in Bloom Beautiful Perth Aberdeen City Perth and Kinross Aberdeen in Bloom’s real motivation Perth in Bloom has a strong link with the in taking part is to encourage citizens local council. The partnering and liaison with to enjoy their gardens and take pride other groups and organisations within the in their local communities and the city. city makes for a vibrant and proactive whole, Duthie Park regeneration is excellent and which works very positively for the city. A congratulations on the first Green Flag. The new heather collection is vieing for the Piper Alpha memorial garden is extremely position as the largest in Scotland. Aberdeen in Bloom colourful and shows a vast variety of roses. Cupar in Bloom The large number of friends groups and Growing Kirkcaldy local environmental and residents groups is Fife to be congratulated, as is the involvement As a newcomer to the Beautiful Scotland A bustling town, Cupar is a crossroads for of schools in a variety of projects. campaign, Kirkcaldy is to be commended for the centre of Fife. It has a good shopping and commercial area and Cupar in Bloom Bonnie Dundee the commitment shown by all the participating organisations. The liaison with Fife Council adds value to the overall ambience of the Dundee City and the local group helps get things done town. The support to the group from local Sustainability projects at the University and the results are plain to see throughout businesses is to be commended. continue to be excellent and improving, the city. Beveridge Park offers a great bog Gala in Bloom and the introduction of food waste recycling garden and traditional Victorian bedding. and reverse vending machines are good Scottish Borders examples, as is the introduction of solar Galashiels is the main commercial and powered litter bins. The large number shopping hub for this part of the Scottish of Friends groups is to be commended Medium Town Borders. It has historical significance and a as these are obviously of great benefit good town centre which is centered around and have been working wonders across Bank Street Gardens. Gala in Bloom has Dundee. There are also four parks with Burgh Beautiful Linlithgow links across the town with other active Green Flag status. West Lothian groups which, amongst other tasks, assist The group work for the enhancement of with cleaning of local waterways. the environment within Linlithgow. The collaboration between the group and other Lanark in Bloom Small City organisations including West Lothian Council, South Lanarkshire Scotrail, local businesses and individuals Lanark occupies an elevated position Beautiful Cumbernauld come together to deliver an interesting, green above the river Clyde and is a very busy and diverse town. Wildlife corridors and North Lanarkshire place. Lanark in Bloom group, while small quirky planting enhance the town. in number, has been able to call on other Cumbernauld’s reputation is rather unfairly assistance and collaborates well with the based on the old shopping centre but, Crieff in Leaf local council and other local groups. In thanks to the work of Cumbernauld in Perth and Kinross the next few years, Castlebank Park will Bloom and associated organisations Crieff is a busy town in a beautiful part become a destination worthy of the town. working hard, the undoubted beautiful of Strathearn. ‘Crieff in Leaf’ is taking on surroundings will come to the fore. The additional tasks which the local authority is Milngavie in Bloom open spaces and mature woodland, as well not able to sustain. The group has a core of East Dunbartonshire as wetland habitats, make Cumbernauld a volunteers who work hard to keep the town haven for wildlife of all types. Milngavie has its own identity even though looking good day to day, but they can (and it is very near to . Civic pride is do) call on others to assist for one off tasks. in Bloom palpable and the local Milngavie in Bloom Fife is going a long way to enhance this feeling. The group works across the town in all The ancient City of Dunfermline has a areas, assisting and acting as a catalyst for beautiful centre based around the Abbey other groups. and Pittencrieff Park, with another park at the other end of the city centre. There Strathaven in Bloom are ambitious plans in place through the South Lanarkshire Business Improvement District (BID). Dunfermline as a whole has pockets of The commitment of this group is plain to green space and committed local residents see across the town. The collaborative who are making a difference. working with the local council, especially in the local park, has delivered a Green Flag, but more importantly has enabled the park to be enhanced despite financial cut backs. Crieff in Leaf Collaboration with the High School is strong.

2 www.beautifulscotland.org Prestonfield and Cameron Small Town House Community Gardening Group Brighter Bothwell City of South Lanarkshire Condorrat Tenants & Residents Association Prestonfield and Cameron House This active group’s motto is ‘Let’s just do Gardening Group is a very small active it!’ and they certainly do just that. There group which manages to achieve a lot in its are colourful floral displays in the town Urban Community local community. The group is working very centre and a range of environmentally closely with the City of Edinburgh Council friendly public spaces. The Brighter Condorrat Tenants & in a joint approach to achieve their goals. Bothwell group works effectively with other Residents Association sections of the community throughout the North Lanarkshire year. The community organic garden and the work at local schools are particularly Condorrat Tenants and Residents noteworthy. Association is a lively group of multi- Flatted Community talented members who work very hard with Friends of Bridge of Allan the younger members of the community, Restalrig & Lochend House with very limited resources, to achieve high Residents Association impact displays. The projects the group Now in their fourth year, The Friends of City of Edinburgh carries out predominantly uses recycled Bridge of Allan continue to make progress materials to great effect. The impact of the work carried out is enhancing their town. Problems with immediately evident upon arrival at this flooding are being dealt with in partnership Cove in Bloom flatted community, with well-maintained with appropriate agencies. The effect Aberdeen City green areas surrounded by colourful of the baskets along the main street is planted borders. Inventiveness is shown superb and gives a colourful welcome Cove in Bloom is a first time entrant, having in the reuse of materials, and the residents to visitors. The Friends have widened moved up from It’s Your Neighbourhood. are involved in a number of local groups their activities to the benefit of the local The group has already made improvements which ensures a voice in important issues. environment by involving a range of local in the local area for residents and visitors to groups. Cove, and the Lauriston Allotments are of a very high standard. This is a small group Pitlochry in Bloom of volunteers with great aspirations for the Perth and Kinross future. Coastal Town Pitlochry makes a welcome and Culter in Bloom Broughty Ferry in Bloom successful return to Beautiful Scotland Aberdeen City after a year out and success in the Britain Dundee City in Bloom champions group. Tourism is This group is very enthusiastic and well The group assisted by other community a vital part of the local economy and the organised, involving a wide range of groups groups continue to work hard for the group makes a significant contribution to in their work in the community. To be benefit of the town. There are colourful, the attractiveness of the town to the many commended is the wild flower meadow area well-planted beds in the Windmill Garden; visitors. Links with, and support from at the ‘station’ and the great work carried out on-going improvements and additions the business community are particularly in conjunction with the local school. at Barnhill Rock Garden; the King St strong in Pitlochry. Events are organised residents garden continues to delight; an all year round to extend the tourist season Cumbernauld Village Action edible garden at the library; and continued and enhance the quality of life for local for the Community improvements at the Wildflower Garden. residents. North Lanarkshire Wick Flowers & Baskets A very well established organisation Highland with high aspirations for the village of Cumbernauld. To be commended are the This community is the furthest north extensive improvements to the Langriggs in Beautiful Scotland 2013 and also which offer habitats for wildlife, and the one of the most enthusiastic. Despite excellent informative signage around the challenging growing conditions and major village which includes heritage information. redevelopment work in the town centre, they have continued to brighten their Dyce in Bloom town with plants. Local Caithness stone Aberdeen City has been used to excellent effect in hard A dedicated group of volunteers, who landscaping, notably at the museum and do a marvellous job with their displays heritage centre where the garden has of hanging baskets and tubs. The been very successfully extended. The community shows great potential. There group’s links with the local community are is a high level of co-operation between first class. the Community Council and the group. Of particular interest are the bug hotel and the Prestonfield and Cameron House Community Gardening Group community garden.

www.beautifulscotland.org 3 The Horizon Group Dufftown in Bloom - Stonehaven Moray Aberdeenshire A large village which has won many awards The Horizon Group has embraced the in local competitions, this group first difficulties of a coastal town with flooding entered the Beautiful Scotland campaign problems, and have moved forward in a in 2012 and has set out enthusiastically by very positive way. The acquisition of their engaging all sectors of the community to Carnoustie Community Council own polytunnel has made planting, recycling meet the campaign criteria and the judges’ Carnoustie Community of bulbs and general maintenance much recommendations. easier for the group. The watering system Council EnviroKirn Action Group Angus devised by a committee member, is to be commended, and the basket trees in the Argyll & Bute Carnoustie has made huge progress in the town square give a blaze of colour. The beauty and cleanliness of this large campaign, adding colour and vibrancy to the coastal village is enhanced by the efforts towns existing attractions. To be commended of a small band of hard working residents. are the stunning war memorial and the There are colourful floral displays along the conservation work at the Golf Course. Coastal Village main street, and the Maze area provides Floral Action Burntisland puzzles for young people and their families. (FAB) Kinghorn in Bloom Flourishing Forth Fife Fife South Lanarkshire When the judges asked this group why they A lively and enthusiastic band of volunteers had formed their group, they said in unison Kinghorn has a colourful main street - the group have taken every opportunity to hang of all ages which has overcome the loss of “because we love Burntisland” and this its base. The group has continued to build became very obvious on the judging tour. baskets and place containers to enhance the appearance for the visitor. The barrier on previous success and has many exciting Moving up from It’s Your Neighbourhood, plans in the process of being developed. this new entrant should be proud of the Blue boxes at the east end of the High Street Flag beach, and also the close relationship display an excellent selection of plants for colour and impact. Earthship Fife is a Newburgh Action Group - they have with the local authority and the Newburgh in Bloom wider community which enables them to great asset for the community, with 400 produce the wonderful displays of colour. volunteers. Fife A new entrant to Beautiful Scotland, with Monifieth Eco Force St Monans enthusiastic and skilled volunteers whose Angus Fife range of innovative ideas and projects Monifieth Eco Force is a very small, highly The opening presentation was very contributed to a delightful visit. An outstanding motivated group who are determined to impressive and very much set the scene feature is the multi-coloured and productive make Monifieth an even better place to for the visit that followed. It was very good vegetable bed outside the Laing Library, live. They should be commended for their to see the involvement of the young people planted and maintained by assistance from planning and raising funds of £20,000 for and their enthusiasm was clear to see. residents affected by mental health issues. a Wildflower Meadow, and also their anti We were particularly impressed with the dog fouling campaign and regular Clean Up geranium growing competition which we Overtown Brighter Village Scotland beach cleans. are sure other groups will want to replicate. Association North Lanarkshire Rothesay in Bloom This large village has high quality residential Argyll & Bute gardens and colourful corner features. Rothesay has just embarked on a very Large Village Recently the main focus has been the impressive regeneration programme around establishment of the ‘Dog Walk’, which has the centre of the town. Plans are also well regenerated a neglected area and reduced advanced for the upgrading of their unique Cairneyhill in Bloom dog fouling. There are plans for further Pavilion building. Of particular interest are the Fife development and tree planting in this area. impressive floral displays along the seafront, the work at Ardencraig Gardens and the A small but dedicated group continues to wildflower garden created in a gap site. bring colour to every corner of this large village. The War Memorial and Sensory St Andrews in Bloom Garden are particularly attractive. Fife Comrie in Colour The committee has put the icing on what Perth and Kinross is already a very attractive cake with their magnificent floral displays which The sustained efforts of the experienced complement the natural heritage. They organising group continue to make this have a dune regeneration programme, attractive village a special place to visit. work closely with a wide range of the They continue to engage the support of community, and their vegetable growing local groups and residents, and the work areas and edible containers compensate with young people and young adults with well for the lack of allotments. additional needs is commendable. Dufftown in Bloom

4 www.beautifulscotland.org Plains Community Futures Group BID North Lanarkshire A large village with a tireless group which Alloa Town Centre BID drives ambitious plans forward to regenerate Clackmannanshire their area. The amazing community Nestled in the shadow of the Ochil allotments are a model of good practice hills, Alloa is the traditional heart of the and create a social hub for residents of all Wee County of Clackmannanshire. The ages. There are exciting plans to develop a Business Improvement District (BID) has community park and a wildlife area. taken ownership of the floral enhancements within the area and has created a visually Wigtown in Bloom Limekilns Floral Displays attractive town centre for businesses and Dumfries & Galloway visitors alike. This charming large village has an Limekilns Floral Displays Dunfermline Delivers enthusiastic and committed band of Fife volunteers and an inspiring community spirit. Fife The central town square is full of colour and Limekilns is a friendly village on the edge Dunfermline is the ancient capital of there are several attractive beds throughout of the . A number of residents Scotland and is a city steeped in history the town for visitors to enjoy. The Nature contribute to the villages displays with their and heritage. The Dunfermline Delivers Reserve is a huge asset to the village and own floral displays at their front doors. The BID area contains many historical and the education and support provided by the boat planter makes an attractive focal point. cultural areas, including Pittencrieff RSPB is much valued by the community. Muthill in Bloom Park, and work undertaken by the group Perth and Kinross highlights a number of enhancements and improvements and also the impact Andrew Muthill is a vibrant small village where most of Carnegie has made and continues to make the community would appear to have joined on the area. Small Village forces in making the village blossom. The ‘Edible Bed’ display is quite ingenious and Essential Edinburgh Business Brighten up Kirkconnel must provide quite a talking point. The group Improvement District Dumfries & Galloway has been innovative by making use of the City of Edinburgh Kirkconnel is a small village with a strong vacant polytunnel over the summer months mining back ground. There is a busy main to grow tomatoes for a little extra funding. The Essential Edinburgh BID area road and also railway line running the entire encompasses an area including Rose length of the village. Local heritage is well Street, George Street and Princes Street, represented with the miners memorial, making it one of the most high-profile the old school park and the Alexander Wee Village areas in the capital. New signage, planters, Anderson Memorial Garden. hanging baskets and other innovations initiated by the BID team have helped Beautiful Kilconquhar enhance this busy area, and attract many Fife visitors. Situated on the shore the small village of Kilconquhar was a bustling community Falkirk Delivers until the early 1900’s. The village is now Falkirk peaceful and vibrant in colour from the The Falkirk Delivers team has made a planting schemes of residents planted significant number of positive changes to containers and gardens. the area in recent years. The group has used the motto “Clean, Safe and Friendly” Low Valleyfield as its key themes to enhance the area for Fife business, residents and visitors. Low Valleyfield is a small village on the Charlestown in Bloom North bank of the River Forth. This once Kirkcaldy 4 All coal mining village is now a dormitory town Fife Charlestown in Bloom for nearby towns and city. The main street Kirkcaldy is the largest town in Fife and has Fife is aligned with floral barrels from one end to a rich industrial heritage. The Kirkcaldy 4 A historic village on the edge of the Firth of the other and the volunteers are dedicated All team have taken over responsibility for Forth, Charlestown was formed when the to the cause. floral enhancements and environmental Earl of Elgin designed and built cottages West Wemyss Bloomers improvements within the BID, and for the Lime Kiln and estate workers. their efforts to promote civic pride and The hanging baskets are impressive, in Fife awareness are clear to see. They have particular the ones on the two tall basket A village that was once in decline, West several other area improvement initiatives trees. To be commended are the beach Wemyss is now a thriving wee village with ongoing, or planned for the future. cleans organised by the group - 60 its own community hub. There is a lot of volunteers involved in a three mile beach heritage in the village which residents are clean during Spring this year. understandably proud of.

www.beautifulscotland.org 5 Discretionary Award Winners

New Entrant Trophy Royal Caledonian Horticultural Growing Kirkcaldy Society Trophy Kirkcaldy in all its endeavours has shown a commitment to the Carnoustie Community Council (War Memorial) Beautiful Scotland ethos. As a new entrant it has more than In a year when War Memorials nationally are receiving upgraded shown that it has a strong community involvement along with attention, Carnoustie has excelled - producing a memorable high standards of horticultural endeavour. The partnership garden around what is already a well-known and respected with the local Fife Council representatives and the group’s landmark. A display of vibrantly coloured well maintained plants supporters is very good. Consultation is one of the strengths brought vigor to this restful place. which makes the potential of Kirkcaldy one to be watched in the future. The Wright Sustainability Award Community Beautiful Perth (Friarton Recycling Education Project) Horticultural The recycling centre at Friarton is like all others. Well laid out, Award busy etc. What sets it aside and makes it different is the education element. There is a special visitors drop off point and, from here, Comrie in Colour a member of the team will take you around the centre to see The first thing to catch what is happening and explain why it is happening. The route is your eye in Comrie are the taken not through the centre but above it on a special elevated stunning hanging baskets walkway which keeps the visitor away from any danger but allows filled with begonias which a great overview of what goes on in the centre. The beauty of this are saved and stored for is that the walk can be guided or you can do it on your own. The the next year at the end of landscaped areas around the depot have been retained by used the season. Throughout the tyres, and the plant material is sustainable with a good selection of village there are containers shrubs which are well looked after and cover the ground minimising and beds brimming over with the need for maintenance. colour. There is variety of Throughout Perth, sustainable planting is augmenting and planting in the many beds in some cases replaces annual bedding. Of special mention and containers. The four themed beds at Mid Square have is Needless Road which has a clever mix of annuals, with a a well-chosen range of shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs backbone of good perennial planting. There are also very good and vegetables. Cultybraggan, the group’s base, houses the planting schemes in the Rodney Gardens & Riverside Park. polytunnel to grow the summer planting, vegetables and herbs assisted by young adults with additional needs. The allotments and fruit tree area are well maintained and productive. Comrie Scottish Natural Heritage Primary School has a variety of growing areas and is a role Biodiversity Award model for other schools. Brighter Bothwell (Organic Community Garden) The garden was created in 2010 on land provided by South Jim Murdie Trophy for Lanarkshire council on a 15 year lease, with money from the Permanent Landscaping Climate Challenge Fund. The garden demonstrates how wildlife can co-exist with food production. It also showcases good practice Aberdeen in Bloom (Duthie Park) in sustainability. There are 62 raised beds including six narrow Duthie Park, an area of around 44 acres, was presented to ones for easy access, and six low ones for small children. All Aberdeen on the 5 July 1880 by Miss Duthie, a local benefactor grow edibles organically, with a few flowers allowed. The group use solar panels for energy and collect rainwater from the roof of to perpetuate the memory of her uncles and brothers. Many their building for use by the plotholders. The building serves as a of the original features of the park still remain, with a number meeting and instructional centre. Two small polytunnels are used having been recently restored to their former glory thanks to for propagating. Compost is made on site and there are wormeries, money from the Heritage Lottery Fund “Parks for the People” bird and bat boxes. An orchard and soft fruit cage have recently programme. The park is still a favourite with the towns people been added, as have a pond and bog garden with native plants of Aberdeen as well as visitors. It is widely used by individuals and a wildflower meadow. Most recent is a bee border featuring and societies to host events and festivals. The park is home plants particularly attractive to bees; several plotholders now keep to the famous rose mountain containing 120,000 roses, many bees. All plots are occupied and in productive use and there is a spectacular floral displays and the David Welch Winter Garden. waiting list. The garden is used for activities by local schools and The park also contains play areas which are constantly busy, after school clubs. Several growers now exhibit at the local flower large open spaces, fountains, a band stand and much more. show where they have been responsible for a welcome increase in A great asset for the city. entries in the fruit and veg classes.

6 www.beautifulscotland.org David Welch Memorial for

Something Special CHARITY Newburgh in Bloom (Edible Project) This entrant is an exciting newcomer to the campaign. The nucleus is the fruit heritage of the Abbey and throughout the village. Sandy’s Orchard, in the centre of the village beside the school, is quite remarkable. There are popular and well attended workshops for all aspects of tree care and the information board provides horticultural and heritage background. The six Fruit Markets bring hundreds from far and wide and 2539 pounds were sold in 2011. There are productive allotments, and a stunning decorative vegetable garden right in the centre of the main street.

Visit Scotland Award for Tourism CHARITY Wigtown in Bloom Well known as Scotland’s Book Town, thousands come to the Annual Book Festival and throughout the year to visit the many bookshops. The largest Nature Reserve in Scotland is another major attraction and the RSPB centre provides well-presented information about wildlife and natural habitat. There is a small museum, the Martyrs’ Cell and the McNeillie Library, which celebrate significant and sometimes gruesome events in the town’s history. Informative leaflets about these and other local features are also available. Wigtown in Bloom helps to promote efforts to attract tourists by: regenerating the Town Square gardens; providing colourful troughs, baskets and formal bedding and encouraging residents and businesses to support the campaign with floral and financial assistance. The community efforts make Wigtown a most attractive tourist destination.

Community Involvement Award Plains Community Futures Group (Community Allotment) The Community Allotment area in Plains has become a social focal point in the village. People who might not have met now enjoy each other’s company in the garden which has become established over a short period. The group has made a priority to create social seating areas, raised beds and easy access for the less able and residents from the Care Home, and has a cafe area in a reclaimed container. The Primary School has plots and containers at the allotment, and a courtyard area at the joint campus. Regular Open Days bring the community together to raise funds. The Allotment Area is greatly valued and appreciated by residents, especially those living nearby, and it has brought a sense of pride and achievement to the village. There is no damage because young people are involved and consulted. Keep Scotland Beautiful is the independent charity which campaigns, acts and educates on a range of local, national and global environmental issues which affect people’s quality of life. It is committed to making Scotland clean and green, today and tomorrow.

Beautiful Scotland In partnership with: Keep Scotland Beautiful T: 01786 471171 F: 01786 464611 [email protected] www.beautifulscotland.org

Printed on FSC 100% recycled silk www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org FSC Logo Keep Scotland Beautiful is a registered Scottish charity. Number SC030332.