Village is pick of the bunch for fourth time
Volunteers in action
Villagers who work tirelessly to put on a smile on the faces of visitors to Cambusbarron have again been rewarded.
For the fourth consecutive year, Cambusbarron has received an `outstanding village’ accolade in the It’s Your Neighbourhood section of the annual Keep Scotland Beautiful awards.
Credit for the achievement goes to Greener Cambusbarron which is part of the village’s community council and made up by about 18 volunteers. They work to enhance Cambusbarron’s green spaces and have added to the blooming appearance of the village by erecting more than 40 hanging baskets and filling over 30 planters with floral decoration.
Greener Cambusbarron coordinator Derek MacAllister said: “Having done well in previous years, we are always trying to maintain standards and add something new.
“The main problem this year was the hot weather in June and July and making sure everything was well watered. We drew up a schedule for the volunteers but it was a chore.” Mr MacAllister explained that the competition’s assessors took into account criteria such as community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement.
Results are ranked at five levels with `outstanding’ being the highest. Volunteers are currently turning their thoughts to next year’s competition and running their annual raffle , the proceeds from which go towards the £1300 annual cost of buying flowers and shrubs for the planters and baskets.
Mr MacAllister urged villagers to take part in the raffle, which runs until the end of the month, but explained they did get a donation from a man in memory of his late mum. She took great delight in displays during her visits to the village.