East Haven has struck gold in the 50th anniversary Beautiful Scotland awards.
The hamlet near Carnoustie was named as the overall coastal category winner as community groups, local authorities and businesses from across Scotland gathered at Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom to celebrate the milestone ceremony in the award scheme organised by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful.
The ceremony, hosted by Aberdeen City Council, recognised the hard work of communities the length and breadth of Scotland to clean up, green up and beautify the places that matter to them – including the efforts of three groups from Angus.
As well as the prestigious coastal category accolade, East Haven Together received a gold award from the judges, leading the way in a prize-winning haul for Angus.
It was also presented with the inaugural discretionary Garden for Life Biodiversity award for its work on local conservation and biodiversity, helping to encourage and protect wildlife and flora and fauna locally, alongside engaging the wider community in its activities.
Colourful Carnoustie also took a gold award and Monifieth Eco Force a silver award in recognition of their community efforts.
Group chair Kirsty MacDonald said “It’s been a lot of hard work but we are over the moon at having won the gold medal again.
“We would like to thank all the people and organisations who have helped us throughout the year, including all our sponsors in Carnoustie without whose continued support, this award would not have been possible”.
Hundreds of entries were judges against the three key pillars of the competition –horticultural achievement; environmental responsibility and community participation.
The awards event brought almost 300 delegates from across Scotland together and George Anderson of the BBC’s Beechgrove Garden presented almost 50 accolades in the gold anniversary competition ceremony.
Keep Scotland Beautiful chief executive Derek Robertson said: “All our Beautiful Scotland entrants have committed a lot of their own time and energy to make sure that Scotland’s outdoor spaces are kept clean, green and beautiful.
“The Beautiful Scotland awards ceremony provides the opportunity to showcase the role that they have played in making a difference.
“It is vital that we reward their efforts and celebrate their achievements.”
Deborah Long, Chair of Garden for Life Forum, said: “The Garden for Life Forum is delighted that East Haven Together has won our very first Biodiversity award as part of the Beautiful Scotland Awards.
“Making space for wildlife is a key component of a healthy and productive green space and we are so pleased to see so many nominations for this discretionary award that cater for such a wide range of biodiversity from amphibians and birds to bees and butterflies.
“Local communities really can make a difference to local biodiversity and using it to increase local knowledge is an excellent way to enable lots more people enjoy Scotland’s nature and bring it home.”
