A TRIO of East Lothian groups are celebrating following the Beautiful Scotland awards.

Dunbar In Bloom, North Berwick In Bloom and Blooming Haddington were all winners at Keep Scotland Beautiful’s annual awards ceremony in Dundee last week.

North Berwick In Bloom struck gold in the Coastal Town Category and also lifted the Community Horticultural Award, while Dunbar In Bloom won silver in the same Coastal Town Category.

Rosie Oberlander, chair of North Berwick In Bloom, expressed her delight, and relief, at the outcome.

She said: “We were pleased to have done well because the competition gets more challenging each year.

“There were only six gold medals this year so to be awarded gold, pick up the coastal resort trophy and also win best community horticulture is great news for us all.

“Thanks to all the volunteers and our supporters in North Berwick.” Blooming Haddington were also celebrating ‘a double’ as they won silver gilt in the Medium Town section and were named the winner in the Best New Entry category.

The awards are broken down into four categories: gold, silver gilt, silver and bronze.

Joe Forte, chairman of Blooming Haddington, was delighted with the result in the group’s first year of entering the nationwide competition.

He said: “It has really been a great community effort and shows the community in Haddington working at its best.” Laura Samuel, from the town’s Fabrication, and community councillor Robert Moran were among those who had travelled to the city for the awards.

Mr Forte said: “We were over the moon. This was our first year and we got the group formed and organised and to achieve what we have, we are just absolutely delighted.” Mr Forte praised all those who had helped, including East Lothian Council, and was now looking forward to building on the initial success with next year’s event.

Mary Young, from Dunbar In Bloom, was similarly thrilled to see the group picking up a prize at the first attempt.

She said: “We are very happy and I would like to thank all the community groups who took part and made it all possible.” She stressed it was not just Dunbar In Bloom who had made the town look beautiful but a lot of hard work from a number of other groups.

She added: “We’re going to keep going for next year and we are looking for more community groups to get involved. Perhaps we could then win a silver gilt or gold award.” Groups across the country are assessed by volunteer judges for their achievements in three core areas: horticultural excellence, environmental responsibility and community participation.

John Frater, of Keep Scotland Beautiful, who hosted the ceremony, congratulated all the winners.

He said: “Keep Scotland Beautiful is delighted to award four top prizes and a number of medal certificates to groups from the Lothians region.

“Through floral enhancement, community participation, and taking responsibility for tackling the criminal activity of littering and dog fouling, Beautiful Scotland groups make a massive difference to our country.”