We have launched a refreshed awards programme celebrating the civic pride and huge amount of volunteer effort, time and talent that goes into keeping the towns and villages of the region.
New awards to celebrate communities and community led projects
The Greener Gateway Community Awards aim to celebrate our communities and community-led projects that take pride in their local environment whilst also acknowledging their efforts to make the region more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
The new awards programme continues the tremendous legacy of the successful ‘Floral Gateway Competition’ which ran for nearly 20 years. Following a two year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the awards have been refreshed in light of the Climate Emergency declaration made in 2020.
Sustainability & civic pride at the heart of new Awards
The Awards are designed to celebrate achievements and promote collaboration within our communities. Similarly, we recognise that we are moving away from the era of focussing primarily on floral displays of annual bedding and, instead, we are seeking to promote a more sustainable, holistic view of horticulture, civic pride and community participation in our communities.
New awards introduced to reflect climate ambitions
Alongside the existing Border Biodiversity Award, we are also introducing two new award categories: the Cultivating Communities Award for community food growing and the Sustainability Award, providing special recognition for individual projects or initiatives.
This ties in with our climate change ambitions, including achieving net zero by 2030, which were set out last year in the Climate Change Route Map.
Gold, silver and bronze certificates will be awarded across all categories and will replace the previous 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, with a separate ‘Best in Category’ award for each.
Online submission
For the first time ever entries can be submitted online or via hard copy, with no in-person judging taking place.
Full details of the awards, the individual categories, entry guidelines and details on how to submit your entry are available to view on our website.
A submission form can be downloaded here.
Entries now open
Entries are now open and can be submitted up until the entry deadline of Friday 5 August 2022.
Judging of the awards will take place during August and September by a panel of in-house judges, with an awards ceremony held in late September to celebrate all the community groups and projects who participated in the new programme of awards.