Parts of Fife are blooming lovely…and that’s official.
The seal of approval has been given to sterling efforts of a band of green-fingered volunteers in Cupar and Kirkcaldy, chosen to represent Scotland at the Royal Horticultural Society’s annual Britain in Bloom awards.
Cupar in Bloom brought home a gold medal in the town category from the prestigious awards while Growing Kirkcaldy was presented with a silver gilt in the small city section.
Cupar was also the joint winner, along with Uddingston, in the young people’s award.
Mary Law, the chairwoman of Cupar in Bloom, was delighted with the top award Cupar received.
Of the seven entries in the category, eventually won by Falmouth, four took golds.
“Every town in each category is judged in its own right and gold is the top,” said Mrs Law.
“If you win your category it is the icing on the cake but as long as you get a gold, that is still very worthy.
“For a gold you have to get 85% or higher, it is a very high standard.”
She added the group had been “very surprised” at the young people’s award.
“You do not stop to think what you really do, you do not realise until you get the prize and start to reflect.”
In Cupar the volunteers work with local schools, colleges, nurseries and Scouts to give the next generation the enthusiasm and skills to care for their communities.
Like all other groups, there is no time to rest on their laurels, as work continues to win Beautiful Scotland awards to put them in the running to be selected for Britain in Bloom next year.
Growing Kirkcaldy chairwoman Alice Soper said: “We are thrilled to bits.”
All the seven finalists in their category received the same silver gilt award, apart from winner Bury, which took home gold.
At a debrief Alice said the group had been told it was very close to earning that gold.
“There was a tweak or two so we’ll go away and take that on board,” she said.
“We are all really delighted. Growing Kirkcaldy was the entry but it represented not just those projects but all the other local groups in the town, businesses and schools, everybody was a part of it and should share in it as well.”