Beautiful Scotland offers an incentive to get you planting

Are you and your neighbours trying to make your area look more attractive? Do you need a goal to get started?

Then, the Neighbourhood Awards, run by Beautiful Scotland, might be the answer.

Neighbourhood Awards are a non-competitive initiative designed to give support and recognition to community groups across Scotland.

Groups who are making local improvements – such as planting flowers, trees or shrubs, clearing up litter or making homes for wildlife – are invited to enter.

In August, an assessor will come and look at the work your group has been doing.

They will give you some helpful advice on the next steps your group might take to improve the area.

All entrants will receive either a Certificate of Improvement, Merit or Outstanding Achievement at a seminar in November.

In 2007, five groups from Edinburgh took part. This year, we are hoping even more will take up the challenge.

• For further information please contact Rachel Kerr, Keep Scotland Beautiful, Islay House, Livilands Lane, Stirling FK8 2BG or call 01479 811477.