The independent charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has recognised the work of two Dumfries and Galloway based groups with ‘green’ It’s Your Neighbourhood accolades at an awards ceremony in Stirling’s Albert Halls today (Monday 27th October 2014).
It’s Your Neighbourhood is a local environmental improvement initiative designed to encourage volunteer groups to pick up their shears and spades in a bid to clean-up and beautify their immediate local areas. The campaign is run by Keep Scotland Beautiful in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society.
Whilst It’s Your Neighbourhood is a non-competitive initiative that places greater emphasis on community participation than gardening achievement, it acknowledges local efforts by presenting groups with certificates based on a 1-5 level of grading. Groups are assessed on their own merits and not compared against each other. The level of achievement is determined by how well the entrant group has done in terms of community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement.
It was announced that the following groups from Dumfries and Galloway had achieved:
Group Name Local Authority Certificate Awarded Level
Auchencairn Link Park Team Dumfries & Galloway Outstanding 5
Incredible Edible Dumfries Dumfries & Galloway Thriving 4
A total of 122 groups entered the campaign, an increase on last year when 88 groups entered. Dumfries and Galloway was not represented in the campaign last year.
Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I would like to thank the two Dumfries and Galloway groups that have entered the campaign this year for their hard work, enthusiasm and commitment. From litter picking to developing allotments and bulb planting, these awards celebrate community effort to improve local environments all over Scotland.
“I am delighted to see more and more groups participating in the It’s Your Neighbourhood initiative. It demonstrates a real drive and passion for improving local areas as well as showing the positive difference volunteers are making to our neighbourhoods. However, through increased participation we together are working towards a Scotland that is a cleaner and greener place for us all to enjoy. It is clear It’s Your Neighbourhood groups make a huge contribution to our country.”
Ursula Hauptmann-Smith, Charity Trustee for Keep Scotland Beautiful, who presented the certificates said: “Each and every group has shown a high level of local pride and selflessness in their efforts to improve their local communities. This initiative shows clearly the results of what can happen when so many people work together towards a common goal.
“The awards are a well-deserved recognition for all the hard work made by community groups and I am delighted to present these certificates to groups in Dumfries and Galloway this year.”
