North Berwick crowned most beautiful town in Scotland

Published on 21/09/2009 22:05

THE streets burst with colour, litter has been banished and volunteers work tirelessly to keep their town looking its best.

North Berwick in East Lothian is a town whose residents have done far more than just put up a few hanging baskets to spruce up their home's image.

And yesterday the hard work of the tireless band of volunteers paid off as the town was judged to be the most beautiful in Scotland. North Berwick scooped the prestigious Rosebowl Trophy in the Beautiful Scotland awards.

Judges were impressed by initiatives that ranged from using seaweed washed ashore as fertiliser to monthly litter picks, and projects to engage young people in designing murals.

The panel also concluded that the floral displays were "stunning", and the environmental attitude of the town "progressive".

Sheila Sinclair, secretary of the triumphant North Berwick in Bloom team behind the bid, said: "We are very, very pleased we have won. We worked very hard this year. Quite honestly we couldn't have done any more. Without doubt it's good for tourism and it's good for people to work together simply to make the place nicer for everyone to live in," she said.

About 20 volunteers devoted their weekends to bringing the town up to scratch, sprucing up flower beds, holding quizzes to raise money, and organising youth activities.

This is the second time North Berwick has won the prestigious Rosebowl Trophy. The town was also victorious in 2007.

Environment secretary Richard Lochhead said at an awards ceremony in the Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen, yesterday that the hard work of communities throughout Scotland had been recognised.

"We should be proud of our communities, urban or rural, and do our utmost to keep them attractive, safe places to live and visit," he said.

Rothesay in Bute received the Rosebowl Reserve Trophy, while Comrie in Perth and Kinross took the Best Village Shield.

Across Scotland, 71 communities entered the 2009 Beautiful Scotland competition. They were visited by assessors in August.

As well as winning the top prize, North Berwick also scooped two more awards – the Coastal Resort Award and Permanent Landscaping Award.

John Summers, chief executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, which hosted the awards, said, "In the year of Homecoming it has been more important than ever that Scotland has looked its best."

North Berwick will now pit itself against other UK towns in next year's Britain in Bloom contest.

SCOTLAND'S SMARTEST COMMUNITIES

CLASS AWARD WINNERS

City Award: Aberdeen

Small City: Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire

Large Town Trophy: Perth

Medium Town Trophy: Cupar, Fife

Small Town Trophy: Cockenzie & Port Seton, East Lothian

Urban Community Award: Dyce, Aberdeen City

Coastal Resort Award: North Berwick, East Lothian

Flatted Community Trophy: Restalrig & Lochend House, Edinburgh City

Large Village Trophy: Comrie, Perth & Kinross

Small Village Trophy: Muthill, Perth & Kinross

Wee Village Trophy: Scotlandwell, Perth & Kinross

Clachan: Forrit Brae, Aberdeen City