MORE than 40 blooming marvellous wheelbarrows have been dotted throughout Haddington to spread some cheer.

Entries have flooded in for Blooming Haddington’s annual wheelbarrow trail, which is now in its third year.

Frances Wright, chairperson of the team of green-fingered volunteers, was pleased to say there had been a healthy number of entrants.

She said: “I think we have got 42 entries.

“Rotary Haddington are going to plant 50 trees for that.

“The first year, we got 52 wheelbarrows but, considering we have had Covid interrupt it, we are pleased.

“We had a couple of late entries as well.”

Rotary Haddington, which is sponsoring this year’s event, had vowed to plant a tree for each entry before the competition, which has a theme of ‘Climate and Nature Friendly’, got started.

The groups plan to work with Mike Foy, East Lothian Council’s tree officer, to decide where and when the trees will be planted.

Already, a map has been printed and can be found outside Haddington Corn Exchange, as well as on the Blooming Haddington website, listing the locations of the brightly coloured spruced-up wheelbarrows.

Entries stretch from Phillips Avenue to Mill Wynd and from Amisfield Park to Moncrieff Walk.

Frances said: “The one in St Mary’s Pleasance is really lovely.

“The Rotary has one at the Maitlandfield House Hotel and there are a few more dotted about.”

Judging of the entries gets underway on Monday.

The competition is split into four categories – individuals, organisations, businesses and neighbourhood – with nearly 20 individuals taking part alongside nine entrants in both the organisation and business categories.

Prizes will be given for the top three entries in each category and a trophy given to the overall winner.

Blooming Haddington was formed in 2013, with horticultural helpers stepping forward to try to brighten up the town.

The volunteers have been successful on both a Scottish and British level, lifting awards at the Beautiful Scotland awards as well as Britain in Bloom.

To view the map to find the entries, go to bloominghaddington.co.uk