Green-fingered Plains residents proved that their village is coming up roses as they were recognised at the annual Beautiful Scotland awards ceremony.
The area’s Community Futures group earned a silver gilt certificate in the large village category for their work in making the village “a more pleasant place to live and visit”.
Volunteers were honoured for their environmental projects, including creating community gardens and woodlands and the colourful flowers displayed in barrels across the area.
Plains was the only North Lanarkshire winner among the 38 groups from across Scotland who were honoured at the ceremony in Dumfries – and now the successful community group have already set their sights on going for gold next year.
Group chair George McCutcheon told the Advertiser: “We’re delighted to have picked up the silver gilt award from Keep Scotland Beautiful; it recognises all the work by our group, residents and partners that have helped make the village look its best.
“Now we hope to achieve a gold award for the village, and the planning and work have already begun to get the village ready for the 2020 awards.
“It’s amazing that Plains Community Futures only came together in March 2017; we’re always looking for help and can be contacted via Facebook.”
Certificates were presented by Lindsay Montgomery, the chair of awards organisers Keep Scotland Beautiful, who said: “I’d like to congratulate Plains Community Futures; it’s thanks to their efforts that local places continue to be maintained to a high standard for everyone to enjoy.
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“Across the country outstanding volunteers, local authority staff and businesses help to protect and maintain the outdoor spaces that are precious to us and bring a wide range of benefits to communities – Beautiful Scotland celebrates their achievements and provides the recognition that they deserve.”
Entrants in the 53rd annual contest were judged by an expert team on their year-round achievements in “creating places that are good for health, wealth and happiness”.
Andrea Van Sittart of the Royal Horticultural Society, a partner of Beautiful Scotland, added: “Congratulations to the communities taking part who go all out to make their villages, towns and cities look stunning.
“Beyond blooms, it’s also great to see so many areas recognised for their tremendous environmental efforts, from planting and conserving habitats for wildlife to clean-ups and running campaigns to cut plastic waste.”
