Groups and volunteers urged to clean up and green up their areas

Perth and Kinross communities are being encouraged to enter countrywide environmental campaigns

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful is calling for groups from the area to register to take part in either Beautiful Scotland or It’s Your Neighbourhood - as it celebrates 50 years of community growing.

Local volunteers and entire communities are being urged to come together to clean up and ‘green up’ the areas in which they live, work and play — and be recognised for their tireless efforts in improving their villages, towns and cities.

Both Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood focus on year round horticultural and gardening achievements, environmental responsibility and community participation, with recognition being given for exemplary work in areas such as tourism, biodiversity and sustainability.

Derek Robertson, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Communities from across Perth and Kinross are doing their bit to ensure local spaces are clean, green and beautiful, and all too often these efforts are overlooked — yet the economic value of the hours people in Scotland volunteer stands at almost £3 million a year.

“Local environmental enhancement can make significant improvements to health and well-being in local communities, as well as creating community cohesion.

“With more than 200 groups taking part in last year’s initiatives, we hope to see record breaking numbers participating in the 2016 golden anniversary celebrations.”

Online registration is now open.