Brighten Up Kirkconnel won a gold medal at the Beautiful Scotland 2022 competition.
The Kirkconnel community scooped the accolade for all their work in the village as they competed against the rest of Scotland.
Brighten Up Kirkconnel is the local group that looks after all of the floral enhancements in the village. They also work closely with other local community groups and the local council to keep Kirkconnel looking good and an attractive community to live in.
The chairman of the Brighten up Kirkconnel and Kelloholm group, Gary Hughes, said: “We, as the group, are delighted that all our hard work and commitment has been recognised at Scotland’s prestigious awards.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their continued support. A big thank you to the village Brownie group who worked on a few environmental projects with us, to Heathhall Garden Centre for the first class quality plants and service provided and a thank you to Castleview Sanquhar for shrubs and compost supplies.”
The community was judged by John MacLennan and Colin Ainsworth in three categories including horticulture, environment and community.
Beautiful Scotland judges commented: “When driving into the village from the north on the main road, you are struck by the colourful arrangements of wall and fence mounted boxes full of annuals. Mavisbank Park is the main green space area in the village, and planters are arranged at the park entrance and strategically along the perimeter path of the park. The Brownies’ planter of nasturtiums is a nice, very low cost feature.
“There are a number of containers and hanging baskets along the main road which help brighten up the busy thoroughfare.
“Polveoch, an open space to the south of the village, is also maintained very well and is based around ex council planting augmented by sustainable herbaceous plantings.”
Judges also suggested some changes to improve horticulture for next year. They added: “It would be to the community’s advantage to make more of Mavisbank Park, if possible. There are a small number of raised beds which have been planted by the Brownies to encourage pollinators, but, in such a large area, perhaps more could be done. Especially by grouping containers and making planting beds in the park.
“The herb bed is in need of some renovation, this was raised by the group during the visit. The planters and wall mounted troughs and boxes are planted well and act as a welcome to the village from the north.
“If a grouping of similar planters at the south end of the village could be done, it would in effect top and tail the welcome to what is an attractive village which has the challenge of a major trunk road running through it.”
The community also heard some feedback about the environment, judges said: “Everywhere looked tidy and litter free. As a whole, the group, with others, are working well in keeping Kirkconnel a good place to live.”
Beautiful Scotland recommended looking into composting on a larger scale, perhaps utilising an area at the ARC centre and developing some environmental initiatives with the primary school, as well as clients at ARC, such as monitoring the River Nith or bug counts.
The community was advised to adopt more space at the 18th century parish church for a swathe of wildflowers or bee-friendly perennials.
Beautiful Scotland also highlighted how a community is at the heart of all that Brighten up Kirkconnel do.
“The local heritage centre is a valuable repository of the village archive, but also acts as a community hub for many different things such as booking the community bus or having passport photos made.”
