Buckie’s Roots feeling blooming great after claiming top Keep Scotland Beautiful award
A charity group have been handed the perfect start to 2025 by claiming a top environmental award for the fifth time.
It was not just the festive season that had Buckie’s Roots celebrating, the volunteer team tasting victory yet again in Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Its Your Neighbourhood awards level 5 - the highest honour available in the scheme.
Delighted with the news was Buckie’s Roots chairwoman Meg Jamieson.
She said: “This is the fifth time we have reached the top award of level 5 in Its Your Neighbourhood awards.
“We are delighted to receive a level 5 distinction award again this year. This is the top level we can achieve without going up into another section which we have been encouraged to do.
“However, we are a small group and we feel we do what we do to a high level within our capabilities. Going into the higher awards would take more time, more volunteers and more financial support.”
Across 27 local authority areas, 195 It’s Your Neighbourhood groups - including Aberlour Primary School Garden in Moray - were recognised, celebrated and thanked for their passionate and committed efforts to improve and protect their communities.
Juliette Camburn, Senior Community Initiatives Officer with Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Every year we welcome our fantastic It’s Your Neighbourhood groups and celebrate their remarkable achievements.
“All the groups make such a difference in their areas. Their impact is felt and appreciated by all and it’s crucial that they are recognised and thanked for their tireless efforts.
“Congratulations to all our entrants and thank you to the amazing volunteers for all you do to make your community a cleaner, greener and more sustainable place for us all.”
This year the award had three main themes participating groups had to address - community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement.
Community participation formed 40 per cent of the total points awarded to competitors, is all about the benefits of working together, being inclusive and taking a role in the community.
Comprising 30 per cent of the total, environmental responsibility is about caring for the local area. It covers a diverse range of issues such as dog fouling, conservation and developing green spaces.
Finally, the final category, gardening achievement, encouraging good practices to help beautify local area.
