Inverurie Environmental Improvement awarded gold for its flower power
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INVERURIE Environmental Improvement (IEI) received the Beautiful Scotland 2019 Gold Medal award for Inverurie at an award ceremony in Dumfries.
The award, presented to IEI committee member Ian Mitchell last week, is the result of the IEI committee working with local community groups, businesses and individuals to ensure that Inverurie town centre looks spectacular with the floral displays every year.
It is recognition of the team work, effort, enthusiasm and passion shown by these community groups, businesses and individuals to make Inverurie a better place for all to enjoy.
The award is the culmination of many years of hard work by the IEI committee and others with the vision of making Inverurie a special place to visit, to work and to live in.
The Gold Medal is also a great boost for the board of the Business Improvement District (BID) and their levy payers. BID's support has been recognised in this way, as they sponsor the hanging baskets in the town centre. Bam Nuttall Ltd also provided sponsorship by building a model train from recycled whisky barrels, as a floral display outside the Garioch Heritage Centre. The model train floral display was planted by pupils from Strathburn School and aptly named The Heritage Express by the pupils.
A Keep Scotland Beautiful judge said: "IEI had excelled in its out-reach to sectors of the community that are often hard to engage. In particular, its involvement at the Day Centre, helping adults with learning difficulties from the Pitscurry Project and Inverurie Days, assisting residents at three of the sheltered housing sites and the young Syrians of the Beginning Garden Group on their journey of learning and integration."
John Glover, IEI chairperson, said: "Winning the Gold Medal for the second year is a wonderful achievement.
"This award acknowledges IEI's work within the community and in partnership with other community groups.
"The judges were impressed with the great display of Overall Best Garden competition winner Elsie Thomson's garden and they enjoyed meeting the residents of Ury House, Urybank Sheltered Housing and local resident Sandy McWilliam, who showed them around their gardens.
"On behalf of the IEI committee, I would like to thank Aberdeenshire Council and Aden Park Nursery for supplying the magnificent plants for the hanging baskets and to the landscaping, cleansing and community waste service teams who contributed so much in making the town look fantastic for the Keep Scotland Beautiful judges.
"The service users and staff of the Pitscurry Project and Inverurie Days can be proud of the contribution they made in achieving these awards for Inverurie by doing an incredible job every year, planting out the hanging baskets.
"Inverurie Men's Shed has been tremendous in providing volunteers for watering the hanging baskets and planters throughout the summer. Inverurie Community Council, Rotary Club of Inverurie, Grampian Opportunities, Breedon Aggregates and many other groups, individuals and community volunteers all contributed in their own way to helping Inverurie achieve the high standards necessary to win these awards.
"This has been a wonderful and very rewarding journey to be on with the support of so many who can now share in this success."
