Communities from across the Scottish Borders came together to celebrate the winners of our Greener Gateway Community Awards 2026 on Monday 28 September at the Inspire Learning building, Tweedbank.
The awards celebrate the achievements of community groups, projects, schools, towns and villages. All were recognised at the prize-giving event for their outstanding efforts to make their communities more vibrant, sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Awards were presented by Councillor Hamilton, East Berwickshire, Executive Member for Housing and Culture; Councillor Linehan, Leaderdale and Melrose, Executive Member for Environment, Sustainability and Transport; and Councillor Greenwell, Mid Berwickshire, Executive Member for Roads and Public Space.
Categories
Categories this year included Border Biodiversity, Cultivating Communities and Sustainability. Entrants received Bronze, Silver or Gold awards. The category winners were SAC Consulting for the Border Biodiversity Award, Greener Peebles for the Cultivating Communities Award and St Ronan’s Wells Community Garden for the Sustainability Award.
The Schools Award showcased projects carried out by pupils to promote sustainability and address themes including climate action, good health and wellbeing, biodiversity, food growing and community partnership working.
Schools entered at either primary or secondary level. Each submission was judged independently and awarded points against the competition criteria, with the final score determining whether it received a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. The highest-scoring submission at each level was named the overall primary or secondary winner.
Schools from across the Borders again submitted a wide range of projects, with entries receiving Bronze, Silver or Gold awards.
St Peter’s Primary School was named the overall primary winner, while Eyemouth High School was named the overall secondary winner. These Best in Category awards recognised the highest-scoring submission at each entry level. Both schools also received a £250 voucher to spend on relevant equipment or materials to support the continuation of their projects.
The Greener Gateway Community Awards recognise and celebrate the civic pride, volunteering and skills that help keep the region’s towns and villages looking cared for. They place particular emphasis on the individuals and groups helping to tackle the effects of climate change.
Full list of entrants and awards
Border Biodiversity Award
- Greener Peebles – Silver
- Chirnside Common Good Association – Silver
- Bright Green Nature – Gold
- SAC Consulting – Gold (category winner)
- Bowden Village Committee – Gold
- Keeping Duns Blooming Marvellous, A Heart For Duns – Bronze
Cultivating Communities Award
- Greener Peebles – Gold (category winner)
- Lilliesleaf Community Development Ltd – Gold
- Burnfoot Community Futures – Gold
Sustainability Award
- St Ronan’s Wells Community Garden – Gold (category winner)
- Eildon Housing Association – Bronze
- Coldstream Community Larder – Gold
- Keeping Duns Blooming Marvellous, A Heart For Duns – Bronze
- Eat Sleep Ride – Gold
Schools Award
- Broomlands Primary School – Silver
- Burnfoot Community School – Gold
- Berwickshire High School – Bronze
- Ednam Primary School – Silver
- Eyemouth High School – Gold (overall secondary winner)
- Galashiels Academy – Silver (community project)
- Galashiels Academy – Silver (school garden)
- Hawick High School – Gold
- Jedburgh Grammar Campus – Gold
- Kelso High School – Gold
- Leader Valley School – Gold
- Selkirk High School – Gold
- Sprouston Primary School – Silver
- St Margaret’s Primary School – Gold
- St Peter’s Primary School – Gold (overall primary winner)
The Greener Gateway Community Awards will return in 2027. Details of the categories, how to enter and the closing date will be shared on Scottish Borders Council’s social media channels and website.