Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Community groups a certified success
Four North Lanarkshire community groups were recognised with certificates of distinction for their continuous environmental improvements at an annual Keep Scotland Beautiful awards ceremony.
Glenboig Development Trust, Friends of Centenary and West End Parks in Airdrie, Greenhead Moss conservation group in Wishaw and Pride in Carbrain all received top recognition at the It’s Your Neighbourhood virtual event.
They were among 15 local projects to be honoured – with all four also receiving the charity’s level five “outstanding” award, alongside Beverley Park and Ballochney Brae residents’ association in Plains, and Viewpark Gardens allotments.
Level-four “thriving” awards went to Friends of Monkland Canal, the Chryston community garden run by Northern Corridor community volunteers, and Gartcosh tenants’ and residents’ association.
Upperton residents’ committee received a level-three “advancing” award for their local environmental projects, as did Westfield community garden in Kilsyth.
Friends of Gartcosh earned level-two “improving” status, and certificates of recognition went to Getting Better Together in Shotts, Hope community garden in Cumbernauld and Viewpark Gardens Trust.
Each group was visited by a volunteer assessor, and the local participants were honoured for projects including gardening and horticulture improvements, tackling litter problems and improving their neighbourhoods.
The online awards ceremony recognised the efforts of 200 groups across Scotland in looking after their local areas and contributing to efforts to “combat climate change and support biodiversity”, with participants also hearing about opportunities to get involved with Scotland’s climate festival.
Keep Scotland Beautiful deputy chief executive Catherine Gee said: “It’s brilliant to be celebrating the work of these communities in North Lanarkshire who are taking action; we know that across the country, people are committed to improving and enhancing the places that they care about.
“It’s Your Neighbourhood entrants [are] doing their bit to understand their own greenhouse emissions and to support nature in the places they care about – they’re making a real difference and I would like to thank them for inspiring us every day.”
The annual environmental event is part of the Uk-wide RHS Britain in Bloom campaign, and community development manager Kay Clark added: “Gardening groups are showing that they can bring communities together, transform outdoor spaces and work in support of wildlife and the local environment.”
Online registration for the 2022 programme will open in mid-january on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website at https:// www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/