Buckie's Roots sign off 2022 with top award glory
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BUCKIE'S Roots have rounded off a hugely successful year with yet another award.
They were one of four Moray groups to be honoured at the recent annual It's Your Neighbourhood seminar run by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful where more than 180 groups from 26 local authorities recognised with certificates and awards for efforts in cleaning up their local areas and making them beautiful.
Buckie's Roots were joined by Aberlour Primary in receiving Outstanding Awards, with Thriving certification going to Elgin's Positive Action Group and Archiestown Green Growth.
It was a case of the group carrying on where they left off, with this February seeing them awarded It's My Neighbourhood level 4 Thriving status, the second highest level in the scheme. The achievement was further accentuated by the fact it was Buckie's Roots' first stab at the scheme.
Meg Jamieson, Buckie's Roots chairwoman, said: "We’re absolutely delighted to gain the It’s Your Neighbourhood Level 5 Outstanding Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful for 2022.
"This award means so much to us as all our interactions with the community, our planning, our environmental responsibility and our planting achievements are judged.
"Building community spirit has always been our aim, making links with other groups and partnership working along with building community networks has enabled us to grow and offer the community more.
"We have had a tremendously busy year and a great deal of planning has gone into everything we do.
"We are always looking ahead and being organised is so vital.
"The community have supported Buckie’s Roots in everything we do from growing, planting, litter picking and helping others. All funding goes back into what we do and awards like this are a massive help when it comes to bigger funding applications.
"As we always say the awards we get are for the Buckie community. We are proud of our town and have been supported by young and old businesses and individuals alike.
"Being awarded the tree of trees for Historic Banffshire was also a great achievement and our thanks goes to Lord Lieutenant of Banffshire Andrew Simpson for his ongoing support to Buckie’s Roots.
"We have more than achieved our aim by getting out there and 'dein' a bit for Buckie' and we’re fare chuffed to get this award."
To find out more about Buckie's Roots, or to sign up as a volunteer, follow their Facebook page.
Juliette Camburn, community projects officer with Keep Scotland Beautiful, commented: “We are delighted to once again be celebrating the brilliant work of groups who are doing so much to make their community a better place.
“Every It’s Your Neighbourhood entrant has made a lasting contribution to their area through their efforts and it’s great to see such a high number taking part this year.
“I’d like to congratulate and thank each and every group, alongside the 26 volunteer assessors we work with who give up their time, support, expertise and guidance, for all they do to make their community a cleaner, greener and more sustainable place for people and nature.”
It’s Your Neighbourhood is Keep Scotland Beautiful’s community environmental improvement initiative which is managed in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).
It runs alongside Beautiful Scotland but is non-competitive and is based on the three pillars of community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement.
Pak Ling Wan, community programme manager of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), added: “We are delighted that so many groups in Scotland are taking part in It’s Your Neighbourhood and achieving so much for their local communities.
"It’s encouraging how groups have fully embraced the initiative showing that they can improve people’s wellbeing and benefit our natural environment through gardening.”
Any group who would like to join Keep Scotland Beautiful’s It’s Your Neighbourhood initiative can email beautifulscotland@keepscotlandbeautiful.org or visit www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/IYN to learn more.
