Call for entries

Monklands communities are being invited to enter this year’s Beautiful Scotland and I t ’s Your Neighbourhood environmental contests.

This year’s themes are the current Scottish year of coasts and waters, and Keep Scotland Beautiful’s 20th birthday.

Entrants to the Beautiful Scotland competition will be judged on horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation; while smaller-scale projects such as allotments, after-school clubs, park friends groups and community gardens can be recognised through the non- competitive It’s Your Neighbourhood project.

Plains community futures was among the groups recognised at last year’s Keep Scotland Beautiful ceremony, receiving a silver gilt award for their projects such as creating community woodlands, floral displays in barrels and baskets throughout the village, plus children’s facilities.

Catherine Gee, the env i ronment a l c h a r i t y ’s operations director, said: “We were overwhelmed by the efforts of everyone who took part in 2019 and very much look forward to helping even more groups throughout this year.

“I hope community groups from all across Scotland will take part in these initiatives this year – these are fantastic opportunities to recognise, support and reward the enthusiasm and drive of volunteers who take pride in their areas and make significant improvements to the places and spaces they love.”

See www.keepscotlandbeautiful. org/beautifulscotland and www. keepscotlandbeautiful.org/IYN for more details and to take part.

Award Plains community futures group lifted a prize at last year’s awards