GREEN-FINGERED groups from across East Lothian have been celebrating success at the Beautiful Scotland awards in Edinburgh.

North Berwick in Bloom, alongside Moray group Forres in Bloom, were joint winners of the prestigious Rosebowl.

They also won the Coastal Town Award, the VisitScotland Award for Tourism and, taking part in the judged category, also received a gold.

Blooming Haddington won the Haddington 700 Award for the Siege of Haddington Commemoration Garden, a collaborative project between the group and the Siege of Haddington Research Group.

Taking part in the judged category, they also received a gold certificate.

East Lothian Council also won the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society Award.

Finally, Aberlady in Bloom and Dunbar in Bloom took part in the non-judged category and both received certificates of recognition.

Hosted by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, the annual Beautiful Scotland awards – held in person for the first time since 2019 – took place at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh yesterday (Friday).

Forty-five groups from all over Scotland were presented with awards and certificates of recognition for their efforts to improve, enhance and protect biodiversity and the places they care for and work and live in.

Judging visits took place during early August, with a team of Keep Scotland Beautiful volunteer judges considering groups’ efforts across three pillars: horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation.

This year there were a total of 24 awards available including, for 2023 only, a health and wellbeing award, supported by the Scottish Association for Mental Health, to celebrate this year’s theme.

As well as the multiple awards available, there are also four categories of medal certificate available to all judged entrants meeting the required criteria.

All 45 entrants received a certificate, with nine winning gold, six winning a silver gilt, two winning silver and the 24 non-judged groups and our four Scottish UK finalists receiving certificates of recognition.

A non-judged category was introduced in 2021 for groups who wanted access to the support, resources and recognition available through the initiative but did not yet feel ready to participate in a judged category.

At the ceremony, these groups were presented with a certificate of recognition, as were the four groups representing Scotland in the UK RHS Britain in Bloom finals later this year.

Juliette Camburn, senior officer, community initiatives at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I’d like to wish a huge congratulations to the four groups in East Lothian who were honoured at this year’s Beautiful Scotland awards night.

"Being together in person to celebrate the collective efforts to improve our local communities, after such a long absence, has been fantastic.

“We’re facing climate and nature crises in Scotland, and everyone must play their part to halt biodiversity loss and to protect and enhance nature.

"The efforts of our groups, and all involved in their communities, is truly inspiring, ensuring their local areas are not only protected but improved for future generations.

“Every group thoroughly deserves their awards and recognition, and their collective effort is immensely appreciated.”