The independent charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has recognised the work of six Falkirk groups with ‘green’ It’s Your Neighbourhood accolades at an awards ceremony in Stirling’s Albert Halls on Monday 27 October. Images can be downloaded here.

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 Falkirk had achieved:

In addition the Friends of the Earth Falkirk and Thornhill Court groups have been awarded additional certificates of distinction for consistently growing and improving their performance over the years that they have participated in the campaign.

Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I would like to thank all the Falkirk groups that have entered 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 Falkirk this year.”