Community groups from across the north-east were awarded with Beautiful Scotland awards this week – proving they are blooming marvellous.
Aberdeen Inspired’s Nuart initiative shone for the judges and won the VisitScotland award for tourism.
Elsewhere in the city, Dyce in Bloom scooped the overall best community in Scotland award winning back the Royal Caledonian trophy and Powis residents also struck gold in the residential community category.
Participating for the first time since 2010, the Inverurie Environmental Improvement Group received a Silver Gilt medal certificate in the Medium Town category. With judges commenting that the group’s efforts to improve the appearance of Inverurie Town Centre had “brightened up the streetscape with colourful planting”.
In Moray, Dufftown in Bloom won a gold medal for their entry into the large village category and Blairmore village walked off with its inaugural entrant prize of the Keep Scotland Beautiful award for Argyll and Bute.
Beautiful Scotland is managed by Keep Scotland Beautiful, a member of the RHS Bloom Federation. Entrants are judged by a team of expert volunteer judges on their year-round achievements.
Awards are presented to a range of local authorities and communities who have achieved the highest scores in their categories, with Discretionary Awards given to those who demonstrate excellence in their commitment to the campaign.
Some of the winners will go on to represent Scotland in RHS Britain in Bloom for 2017.
Speaking after the award ceremony in Dunfermline, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, Aidrian Watson said he was “delighted” to get the silver gilt medal and “even more delighted” to have won the tourism award for Nuart. He said: “I’m thrilled that Nuart has been recognised again with this award. It means we are heading in the right direction. It will most likely return to the city again next year.”
George Penny and his band of 50 local volunteers put in a hug effort for Dyce in Bloom and last night he said was “extremely proud” of the village’s efforts, adding: “Everyone gets involved, which is what I love about it and everyone deserves thanks and praise for achieving this award.”
Other Aberdeen winners were, Brighter Bucksburn who won a silver medal and Cove in Bloom who also gained silver Gilt.
Winners were assessed against the three core pillars of the Beautiful Scotland campaign – Horticultural Achievement; Environmental Responsibility and Community Participation.