Group hope to bloom with award scheme
Assessment change
Community group Burnside in Bloom are switching back to an award scheme they think will help improve the community.
The committee have been working hard to transform the neighbourhood through planting eye catching floral arrangements and keeping the streets litter free.
The group has previously been assessed, and enjoyed success, with the Royal Horticultural Society and Beautiful Scotland’s ‘Its Your Neighbourhood’ scheme before moving to the Keep Scotland Beautiful awards.
They have now returned to RHS, which supports community groups in cleaning up and greening up their immediate local environment - whether that’s the street they live in, or a small patch of communal land needing a revamp.
Malcolm Piggot, a member of the group, said the group have found this better serves their needs.
He added: “We felt that the Keep Scotland Beautiful Awards didn’t suit us, we didn’t like the competitiveness or being up against other communities, we’re not really in it for gongs, we’re in it to make Burnside a better place.
“Someone from It’s Your Neighbourhood comes out and gives the area an external assessment. They then give you feedback which is more valuable to us than prizes.”
They will find out what awards they have achieved later this year, when the assessor has drawn up their results at a special ceremony.
And the group have been busy in the summer months. They will plant two barrier planters one on Highburgh Drive, sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland and one on Dukes Roads, sponsored by Skye Dental Group.
Malcolm added: “We’re looking forward to the assessor coming out to visit us.”