A NEW trophy will be presented to a team of green-fingered volunteers at a national awards ceremony in East Lothian today (Thursday).

The Beautiful Scotland Awards take place in St Mary’s Parish Church, Haddington, with groups from throughout Scotland aiming to win prizes.

And a new award, with a distinctly local name, is up for grabs.

A spokeswoman for organisers Keep Scotland Beautiful said: “To Keep Scotland Beautiful’s delight, East Lothian Council took the decision to support a new annual award this year.

“The host town of Haddington celebrates 700 years since the signing of the Bruce Charter. While Haddington was granted burgh status at least 200 years earlier, the original charter granted by King David the first had been lost or destroyed. The 1318 charter conveyed on the town the right to hold a market and collect customs. A programme of events to celebrate this anniversary have been taking part throughout the year.

“To assist in marking this significant point in history, the Haddington 700 Award has been created by local artist Wendy Lund and features images and colours of East Lothian and Keep Scotland Beautiful.

“The award is presented to any entrant who has developed or restored a feature or initiative that celebrates local history or community traditions through horticulture.”

Three teams of volunteers from East Lothian – Blooming Haddington, North Berwick in Bloom and Dunbar in Bloom – are hoping to scoop prizes at the ceremony.

Provost John McMillan, who is an elder at the church, was delighted.

Mr McMillan, who is also a ward councillor and the local authority’s spokesman for tourism and economic development, said: “It is a wonderful mix of Haddington, East Lothian and St Mary’s.

“Also, the base for it is being done by Stuart Pryde, who is one of the council officers, who is a very skilled amateur woodworker.

“It is a nice way of marking Haddington 700.”