The contributions of two green-fingered volunteers have been recognised at a national event.

The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society held its annual general meeting in Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden, where Beryl McNaughton and Ian Craigie were among those receiving awards.

Beryl received the Scottish Horticultural Medal, which is strictly limited to a maximum of 50 recipients at any one time.

The accolade is awarded to anyone who has made an outstanding contribution to Scottish horticulture.

Beryl is one of Scotland’s best known and most respected plantswomen, having founded Macplants in 1979. The nursery, near Boggs Holdings, has become Scotland’s largest producer of herbaceous perennials and alpines.

At the age of 86, Beryl still works in the nursery most days, passing on her knowledge, skills and experience to other members of the team and her many customers.

She is still a popular speaker at many local and national gardening forums, clubs and societies.

Beryl has been a very active member of the Gifford Horticultural Society committee since 2004 and was president between 2009 and 2012.

A spokesperson for the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society said: “The current success of the Gifford Horticultural Society is very much due to Beryl’s ongoing commitment and enthusiasm.

“She still cultivates her own, very good, Tynebank garden, which she shares with many appreciative visitors, especially in spring, when her snowdrop collection is in flower.

“She has a Scottish Rock Garden Club Lifetime Achievement Award and was a founder member of the Meconopsis Group devoted to the ‘Big Blue Himalayan Poppies’ and judged the Royal Horticultural Society trials of these plants.

“Last, but very definitely not least, she supported her late husband, Ian, in his plant breeding work, notably with the McNaughton series of autumn gentians.”

Meanwhile, Ian received a Certificate of Merit.

When Ian left North Berwick High School, there was never any doubt he would follow his father into a career in horticulture.

He worked at a local nursery, then Edinburgh parks department, where he was a key worker in many of its displays, including Princes Street Gardens and events such as the Royal Highland Show.

However, with a young family, travelling was tiresome, so Ian moved to a local farm as gardener handyman.

On retirement, he immediately joined North Berwick in Bloom.

The spokesperson added: “His wealth of practical experience has been a huge asset to the group.

“He regularly worked ahead of the volunteers, getting beds and planters prepared so that even the least-experienced volunteers could turn up on a Monday morning work session knowing they could make a contribution to improving their town.

“He was also the person who looked after the group’s two greenhouses, where he showed others how to recycle plants such as tuberous begonias and fuchsias for later years, as well as sowing seeds and bringing on plug plants for the incredible edible displays in summer on the town’s High Street.

“North Berwick in Bloom now has a pool of 40 volunteers so Ian has decided it’s time to step back and help look after grandchildren, though he still looks after the garden at a local church.

“He played a significant part in North Berwick’s many awards, most recently the gold medal and winner of the coastal category in Britain in Bloom in 2022, but his greatest satisfaction comes from helping make the town he grew up in attractive for 365 days a year.”