Scots village is British No1 for flower power

WHEN Brazil won the World Cup three times, they got to keep the trophy. But in the horticultural world, if you win the Britain in Bloom champion of champions title twice in a row, they don't even let you enter it the year after.

• The village of Falkland in Fife looks more like an exotic foreign locale, such is the dedication of green-fingered volunteers

Such an all-conquering feat had never been achieved before - until last night, when the village of Falkland in Fife scooped the coveted title for the second year running.

Villagers who attended last night's award ceremony in Birmingham were taken aback at securing the two-in-a-row triumph for the first time in the history of the competition.

Chairman of the Falkland in Bloom committee, Keith Jackson, described it as a "fabulous achievement" for the village, previously best known for its royal palace and being home to the world's oldest tennis court.

Mr Jackson said: "Winning the champion of champions two years running has never been done before. We must be doing something right.

"This is down to the hard work of our volunteers, and the way the whole community gets behind Falkland in Bloom. We're taken aback, really."

Local companies who back the event were also celebrating the triumph last night, although how much it costs to win the event is unclear as most of the work is voluntary.

Helen Lawrenson, from land-use charity the Falkland Centre for Stewardship, contributes her expertise to the village in bloom effort every year. She said: "It's about more than just planting a few flowers. You have to propagate the flowers, grow them, get the community involved. It's like a full-time job for volunteers.

"Falkland was Scotland's first conservation village and it is already incredibly beautiful, but the Falkland in Bloom effort really adds some colour to the village. And everyone respects the effort that gets put in, so vandalism and such like don't really pose a problem."

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced the winners of its 2010 Britain in Bloom awards last night in Birmingham at the awards ceremony attended by more than 450 community and gardening champions.

Villages and towns can only hold the champion of champions title for two years in a row, so Falkland will not be eligible to go for the title next year, although it can still compete in the other Britain in Bloom awards.

Other Scottish places scooped various awards including Aberdeen, which won the bronze in the city category; Cupar, which collected the silver gilt in the town section; and Comrie, which received the gold and category winner for large village.

Jim Pope, from Aberdeen, won one of the RHS Britain in Bloom community champion awards; Muthill in Perthshire won silver in the village category; Dyce, near Aberdeen, won silver gilt in the urban community section; and North Berwick won gold and category winner for the coastal section.