Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful is inviting Lanarkshire community groups to spruce up Scotland in this year's Beautiful Scotland and It's Your Neighbourhood initiatives.
Groups with an interest in improving their local environment – from cities and towns, to villages, parks or community gardens – are welcome to register and take part, with a deadline of April 30, 2022.
Run by the charity in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), the projects give volunteers and groups the chance to benefit from expert support, resources and recognition for their efforts to protect and enhance their local places.
A team of expert volunteers also provide mentoring throughout the year.
Following on from the success of last year’s theme of ‘Climate and Nature Friendly’, and joining the national celebration of Scotland’s stories, 2022’s theme will be the ‘Year of Stories’.
Groups will have the option to build on last year’s projects or start new projects and focus activities around this, finding innovative and creative ways to tell the tale of their endeavours.
Ideas include installing new interpretation panels to showcase your area’s history or natural wonders; running a poster or short story competition for young people, with the winners displayed in a prominent location; or using plants to tell a story.
In 2021, Keep Scotland Beautiful supported and celebrated the achievements of over 250 groups across Scotland. The dedicated volunteers overcame the challenges of the last year, finding new ways to look after and enhance the places they care about.
This year a full Beautiful Scotland competition will be held, after a two-year pause, with medal certificates, category awards including the prestigious Rosebowl, and discretionary awards being presented at a ceremony in the autumn.
Judging will be held from August 1-14, 2022. There will also be a non-competitive option, allowing groups to connect with others and take part without the pressure of a judge’s visit.
Catherine Gee, Deputy CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “The last year has been very important for action on climate change in communities.
"Volunteers across Scotland make a huge contribution to the essential work being done to tackle the climate and nature emergency we are facing, helping make Scotland clean, green and sustainable for nature and people.
"As a recognition of this and of the challenges faced by groups over the last year, the registration fee for Beautiful Scotland was removed in 2021 and entry will also be free this year.
“We’d love people from well-established groups, through to those just starting out, to register for free support through the Beautiful Scotland or It’s Your Neighbourhood initiatives this year – joining a network of passionate people who they can share their stories with and learn from.”
An online information session will be held on Thursday, February 17 from 6-7pm. All are welcome - email for joining instructions if you aren’t already registered with Beautiful Scotland or It’s Your Neighbourhood .
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