Representatives from towns, villages and schools across the Borders came together on Tuesday evening to celebrate their achievements in the 2025 Greener Gateway Community Awards.
Celebration of local projects and volunteers
Villages, towns and individual projects were recognised at the prize-giving event 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, Kelso were crowned the winner of the Town Award, Coldstream claimed the Large Village Award, Greenlaw triumphed in the Small Village category and Birgham scooped the Wee Village Award.
In the other award categories, Bright Green Nature – a charity dedicated to environmental conservation - were winners of this year’s Borders Biodiversity Award, Burnfoot Community Futures claimed the Cultivating Communities Award and Coldstream Larder’s project gained the Sustainability Award.
The Schools Award, which showcases the projects carried out by students to promote and address issues such as sustainability, biodiversity and food growing, was won by Westruther Primary School and Eyemouth High School. For their efforts both schools received a £250 voucher to spend on relevant equipment or materials to help with the continuation of their project.
The Greener Gateway Community 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 with a particular focus on highlighting the individuals and groups who tackle the effects of climate change.
Councillor John Greenwell, Portfolio holder for Roads and Public Space Development
“Many congratulations to all the towns, villages, groups and volunteers who have been recognised this year through the Greener Gateway Community Awards.
“The Awards serve as a way for us as a Council to recognise and thank those individuals, organisations who dedicate their time and resources to making the Scottish Borders a more vibrant and cared for region.
“From a personal perspective it’s great to see the Awards going from strength to strength, demonstrated by the wide variety of entrants this year. I am particularly encouraged to see so many projects with a sustainability focus – helping us in our mission to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
Full list of winners
Town (population over 2,500)
- Kelso – Silver
- Jedburgh – Silver
Large Village (population between 1,001 and 2,500)
- Coldstream – Silver
- Chirnside – Silver
Small Village (population between 301 and 1,000)
- Greenlaw – Bronze
Wee Village (maximum population of 300)
- Birgham – Silver
- Ancrum – Silver
Border Biodiversity Award
- Bright Green Nature – Gold
- Brighter Selkirk - Gold
- Green St Boswells – Gold
Cultivating Communities Award
- Burnfoot Community Futures – Gold
- Brighter Selkirk – Silver
Sustainability Award
- Coldstream Community Larder – Gold
- Burnfoot Community Futures – Silver
Schools Award
- Westruther Primary School – Gold
- Broomlands Primary School – Silver
- Jedburgh Grammar Campus Primary School – Silver
- Leader Valley Primary School – Silver
- Duns Primary School – Bronze
- St Margaret’s RC Primary School – Bronze
- Eyemouth High School – Silver
- Hawick High School – Bronze
- Selkirk High School – Silver