Representatives from towns and villages across the Borders came together on Tuesday to celebrate the winners of the 2023 Greener Gateway Community Awards.
Multiple award-winners on night of celebration
Villages, towns and individual projects were recognised at the prize-giving ceremony held at the Inspire Learning building in Tweedbank for their outstanding efforts in helping make their communities more vibrant, sustainable and environmentally friendly.
In the settlement categories, Eyemouth was crowned the winner of the Town Award, Chirnside claimed the Large Village Award and Birgham the Wee Village Award.
Brighter Selkirk were winners of the Borders Biodiversity Award with Cockburnspath Allotment Association having a very successful evening scooping both the Cultivating Communities Award and Sustainability Award.
The Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the civic pride, volunteering efforts and skills that help keep the towns and villages of the region looking so cared for.
Celebrating sustainability and biodiversity
Since the rebranding of the Awards in 2022 from the Floral Gateway Awards, an increased focus has been placed on highlighting the efforts of individuals and groups to tackle the effects of climate change.
Councillor John Greenwell, Executive Member for Roads Development & Maintenance:
“A huge congratulations must go to all the winners in this year’s Greener Gateway Community Awards who are shining examples of the terrific civic pride and community spirit that can be found right across the Borders.
“It is tremendously heartwarming to see so many individuals and groups actively engaging in a wide variety of projects within their towns and villages.
“Dedicated community work and volunteering, evident from the projects highlighted in this year’s awards, undoubtedly makes the Scottish Borders a more vibrant place to live and work in and it fills me with immense pride.”
Images from the awards ceremony are available to download and use from our Flickr site.
The full list of winners in each category were:
Town (population over 2,500)
- Eyemouth - Gold
- Jedburgh – Silver
Large Village (population between 1,001 and 2,500)
- Chirnside – Silver
Wee Village (maximum population of 300)
- Birgham – Gold
Border Biodiversity Award
- Brighter Selkirk – Silver
- Trustees of Bowden Common - Silver
- Chirnside Common Good - Silver
- Leitholm, Eccles & Birgham Community Council - Silver
Cultivating Communities Award
- Cockburnspath Allotment Association – Gold
- Burnfoot Community Futures – Gold
- Greener Peebles - Gold
- Brighter Selkirk - Silver
Sustainability Award
- Cockburnspath Allotment Association - Gold
- Jedburgh Community Council - Silver
- Brighter Selkirk - Silver