Taking pride in the area
Bid to spruce up South Lanarkshire
Sick at the sight of South Lanarkshire’s litter? Well, it’s not too late to make a difference.
Keep Scotland Beautiful – Scotland’s leading environmental charity – are urging people here to stand up and join in their efforts to spruce up the country.
And they are calling for groups to make 2017 the year to put their community in the national spotlight by entering a national competition for environmental improvement.
South Lanarkshire had an exceptional year in 2016 with Brighter Bothwell and Uddingston Pride both receiving Beautiful Scotland gold awards. Flourishing Forth and Lanark in Bloom also received Silver Gilt and Silver awards respectively.
Marjory Robertson from Brighter Bothwell said: “We are committed to making a difference to our local environment so that it is attractive for residents and visitors alike. We have a strong commitment to biodiversity.
“Taking part in Beautiful Scotland helps give a focus for our work, and helps to gain support from our local authority. We aim to support and promote as many aspects of Keep Scotland Beautiful’s work as we can.”
The competition, which this year will focus on birds, bees and trees, is run in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). Its purpose is to bring communities together to help deliver environmental improvements and recognise the efforts of volunteers across Scotland as they work hard to enhance local areas. Beautiful Scotland celebrate and support the achievements of entire villages, towns, cities, residential communities and Business Improvement Districts from across Scotland who help to improve the places they care for.
Smaller-scale projects such as community allotments, friends of parks groups, after-school clubs and community gardens can enter the non-competitive It’s Your Neighbourhood campaign.
Beautiful Scotland have an extensive set of categories and awards, with judging focussed on the areas of horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation. A number of winners can then progress to represent Scotland at UK level in the RHS Britain in Bloom competition.
Online registration for the Beautiful Scotland awards and for It’s Your Neighbourhood is at www. keepscotlandbeautiful.org.