Recognition for Aberdeen community volunteers

09 November 2016

School groups, community allotments, flats and gardens, friends of parks groups, charities and churches in Aberdeen have been recognised at the It’s Your Neighbourhood (IYN) Awards.

It’s Your Neighbourhood, a grassroots community gardening campaign which is part of Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom awards, celebrates the achievements of communities who have come together to clean up and enhance the neighbourhoods where they live, work or spend their leisure time.

The campaign, which is non-competitive and based on the three themes of Community Participation, Environmental Responsibility and Gardening Achievement, is for volunteer-led community groups that are cleaning and improving their neighbourhoods.

A total of 23 groups from Aberdeen were recognised for their dedication to keeping their neighbourhood clean and green.

Councillor Jean Morrison, vice convener of Aberdeen City Council’s Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee, said: “Aberdeen has enjoyed tremendous success this year at the Britain in Bloom and Beautiful Scotland awards already.

“The It’s Your Neighbourhood campaign is special because it is an opportunity to recognise those community groups, schools, charities and individuals who contribute so greatly to keeping their neighbourhood clean and green by volunteering at these worthwhile projects

“As well as cleaner and greener surroundings, participants also report safer surroundings due to a greater sense of community pride. We see increased levels in local recycling and environmental awareness, and also a reduction in anti-social behavior”.

The Aberdeen groups and projects recognised this year are:

Level 5 – Outstanding

Brighter Bucksburn Friends of Duthie Park Friends of Seaton Park Friends of Union Terrace Gardens Garthdee Field Allotments Association Hazlehead Primary Nether Loirston Growers Association Slopefield Allotment Association

Level 4 – Thriving

Airyhall Primary School Cummings Park Community Flat DA (Drugs Action) Recovery Garden Project Denburn Court Residents Friends of the Denburn Friends of Victoria and Westburn Parks

Level 3 – Advancing

Footdee Community Development Trust Friends of Walker Dam Gerrard Street Baptist Church Granite Hill House Tennants Association Knowing No Bounds More Blooms in Cults, Bieldside and Milltimber

Level 2 – Improving

Turntable Gardens

Level 1 – Establishing

Castlewood Gardens Cummings Park Community Garden