Aberdeen is celebrating today after the city won the champions of champions award – the Rosebowl - along with five other awards in the Scottish in bloom competitions.
The city – including community organisations, Friends groups, and residents, all contributed to the accolades at the annual Beautiful Scotland awards which were held in Aberdeen this afternoon.
The complete list of prizes is:
- The Rosebowl, won by Aberdeen Communities Together (led by Aberdeen City Council);
- Aberdeen Communities Together won the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society Award and the VisitScotland Award for Tourism;
- Aberdeen Communities Together also won the City Award and a Gold certificate, as well as being awarded Runner Up, along with Aberdeen City Council, in the David Welch Memorial Award for Something Special - for their Meadow in a Box project;
- Aberdeen City Council also received a runner-up certificate for the Wright Sustainability Award for the B-Line project;
- Powis Residents Group received the Residential Community Award and a Silver Gilt certificate;
- In the non-judged category, Brighter Bucksburn and Cove in Bloom received Certificates of Recognition.
The wins add to Aberdeen’s extensive success, having won a medal in either Britain in Bloom or Beautiful Scotland every year since 2008 and has been award-winning in the competitions since 1964. Aberdeen City Council this year is also celebrating 60 years competing in Britain in Bloom and Beautiful Scotland.
In 2023, 2022, and 2021, Aberdeen won gold in the ‘City’ category in Beautiful Scotland and was also crowned Overall Joint First in 2022. In 2020, Aberdeen was a finalist for Champion of Champions award in Britain in Bloom but the competition was cancelled due to the pandemic.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen Dr David Cameron, who was official host of the event, said: “We are over the moon about winning the Rosebowl and the other awards today – it’s such a tribute to our hard-working gardeners and greenkeepers as well as all the amazing community organisations, groups, and individuals who help to continue make Aberdeen’s green spaces beautiful.
“Aberdeen has a long and prestigious history in the Beautiful Scotland and Britain in Bloom competitions so it’s fantastic that we’ve won this accolade in our 60th year of entering the competitions.
“We’d like to say a big ‘thanks’ to everyone who makes a contribution to our parks and green spaces and encourage everyone to come and see for themselves what beautiful – and award-winning - places they are.”
Entrants in the competition from around the country were in Aberdeen for the prestigious Keep Scotland Beautiful event which was held in one of the city’s jewels in its crown, Duthie Park.
Juliette Camburn, Senior Officer, Community Initiatives at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “I’d like to wish huge congratulations to our fantastic Aberdeen City winners who were honoured at this year’s Beautiful Scotland awards. Aberdeen City Council is celebrating 60 years competing in Britain in Bloom and Beautiful Scotland – one of only two locations across the UK. It is fitting that the city has won the Rosebowl in 2024.
“It was wonderful to be in Aberdeen once again to celebrate the brilliant efforts of groups from across Scotland who do so much to improve our local communities.
“We’re facing climate and nature crises in Scotland, and everyone must play their part to halt biodiversity loss and to protect and enhance nature. The efforts of our groups, and all involved in their communities, is truly inspiring, ensuring their local areas are not only protected but improved for future generations.
“Every group thoroughly deserves their awards and recognition, and their collective effort is immensely appreciated.”
Keep Scotland Beautiful organises the top gardening competition Beautiful Scotland for councils and other community organisations across the country. Major winners from regional competitions including Beautiful Scotland are then put forward for the UK-wide finals Britain in Bloom.
The KSB awards ceremony comes after competition judges were in the city last month as part of their deliberations. Judges Liz Stewart and Gregor McGillivray started their visit at the community garden at the Duthie Park Ranger Station speaking with community groups and organisations from around the city followed by a tour of the David Welch Winter Gardens.
Other places the judges visited on their tour included the schoolchildren-designed flower beds on Great Southern Road, Victoria and Westburn Parks, through Old Aberdeen, and finishing at Seaton Park.