Villages score gold in national awards
Top achievements in Beautiful Scotland
Uddingston and Bothwell environment groups this week expressed delight at their success in this year’s Beautiful Scotland competition.
Both Brighter Bothwell and Uddingston Pride both won a gold award in their respective categories in the awards. It is the first time Brighter Bothwell has won the accolade.
Uddingston Pride won gold in the 2010 competition.
Following the presentation of the awards in Aberdeen last week, Marjory Robertson of Brighter Bothwell said: “We’re overjoyed. These awards are not gained easily and could not have been achieved without the help of our volunteers and other supporters. “Sincere thanks are also due to our South Lanarkshire Council team. To have Bothwell and Uddingston both achieving such success in 2016 is a great accolade for our neighbouring communities.”
And Uddingston Pride chairman Liz Wilson said: “We’re delighted to win the Beautiful Scotland Urban Community category with a gold award.
“The whole village community have shown great support for Uddingston Pride who enter this prestigious competition on behalf of the village.
“We’re also very fortunate to have the co-operation of South Lanarkshire Council ground maintenance team whose help is much appreciated.”
Brighter Bothwell were also presented with a discretionary Keep Scotland Beautiful award recognising 16 years of community environmental initiatives including the Jubilee Garden, Sensory Garden, and organic garden.
The Keep Scotland Beautiful charity which organises the Beautiful Scotland awards commended Brighter Bothwell for their hard work.
Beautiful Scotland trustee Tom Brock said: “In the year that Beautiful Scotland is celebrating 50 years, Brighter Bothwell has embraced all that Keep Scotland Beautiful stands for.
“From the early days when the group was established with the aim to make Bothwell more attractive to residents and visitors, the volunteers have sought to involve local people, businesses and young people.
They have been actively involved with many of our activities to engage with communities, from applying to the Climate Challenge Fund, to organising litter picks and dogfouling campaigns under the Clean Up Scotland campaign banner and this year hosting a One Planet Picnic.
“The group has made links with others in the area, and has celebrated our anniversary this year with imagination – from knitted flowers in our logo colours in shop windows, to beautiful stained glass creations, and scarecrows in the community.
“I’d like to thank all the volunteers of Brighter Bothwell for being true ambassadors for our charity and for helping to make Bothwell brighter and Scotland beautiful”.