Border towns and villages triumph in Floral Gateway

Thursday, September 7 2006

Galashiels, Melrose, Broughton and Gavinton came top of their class in this year's Scotland Floral Gateway Competition 2006.

The winners and runners up were awarded certificates and trophies at an evening prize-giving ceremony at council headquarters on Tuesday 29 August. The evening, organised by Jason Hedley, SBC Parks Manager, was a great success, with entrants from across the Borders turning out in force to hear the results. Among the guests were SBC councillors, officers and members of the judging panel.

Councillor David Paterson who helped to award the prizes, said, “The Floral Gateway is all about bringing communities together to help them present the best in all that is green in their area. However, the benefits are wider than blooms. We all know the numbers of tourists that the Borders attracts, and they keep coming back to us year after year – and telling their friends about how beautiful a place it is. It is obvious to me – and to many others, that the positive comments come as a result of the endeavours of the communities in the Borders.”

The competition, which is in its sixth year, is run in association with Beautiful Scotland in Bloom with a panel of two independent judges and members of the BSIB team. The winners and runners up were announced in four categories: Town, Large Village, Small Village and Wee Village. Points were awarded not just for the floral displays but for environmental cleanliness and community involvement.

Jason Hedley said, “The increased number of entries this year, plus the fact that some communities who were not directly involved attended the awards evening, is very encouraging. The positive interest in the competition suggests that next year we may see even more communities taking an interest in taking part, which can only benefit the whole of the Borders. I think this year’s competition has been a great success and the challenge has now been set for next year.”

The results were as follows:

Class 1 Town

Galashiels 1^st

Jedburgh 2^nd

Hawick 3^rd

Class 2 Large Village

Melrose 1^st

West Linton 2^nd

Coldstream 3^rd

Class 3 Small Village

Broughton 1^st

Eddleston 2^nd

Greenlaw 3^rd

Class 4 Wee Village

Gavinton 1^st

Bowden 2^nd

Morebattle 3^rd

Melrose and Galashiels are also finalists for the national Beautiful Scotland in Bloom competition. The results will be announced on 13 September.

For more information about next year’s Floral Gateway competition, please contact Jason Hedley, SBC Parks Manager, on 01835 825113.

Reference: News-17503, Contact the Author