Blooming success for Dumfriesshire group

Two decades of floral hard work reaps the rewards for Brighten up Kirkconnel and Kelloholm volunteers

For two decades green-fingered residents have been making a blooming marvellous impact in their Dumfriesshire villages.

And this year’s 20th anniversary has seen the hardworking neighbours pull out the stops to brighten up the community for locals and visitors and collect major awards in recognition of the riot of colour and innovative efforts to make Kirkconnel and Kelloholm bloom and grow.

The Brighten up Kirkconnel and Kelloholm volunteers received a gold certificate and a highly commended certificate in the Community Involvement Award category at this year’s Beautiful Scotland ceremony, following appraisals during the summer by this year’s judges, Sarah Turnill and Joy Grey.

And it tops up celebrations during the year which included a superb anniversary cake and The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society presenting them with a Caley Award for Services to Gardening and Horticulture in Scotland, at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh.
Since 2004 the inspiring group of people have devoted hundreds of hours to make their community bloom and grow.

Each year they add floral displays and plant permanent shrubs and bulbs, encouraging residents of all ages to join in.

And each year they offer something new which is guaranteed to bring a smile and brighten everyone’s day.

Brighten up Kirkconnel and Kelloholm chairman, Gary Hughes, said they are thrilled with this year’s displays and the lovely comments they receive – with the Caley Award and Beautiful Scotland success rounding off a fabulous 20 years.

Their haul of trophies and awards over the two decades includes the best Small Village Trophy in 2015 and 2019; Nithsdale in Bloom Large Villages Award; the Sir David Landale Trophy for Community Involvement; and previous bronze, silver and gold medals at the Beautiful Scotland competition as well as Best Small Village and Community Involvement Awards.

They have also been helping their community become more climate and nature friendly putting their spare time and effort in to improve, enhance and protect biodiversity where they work and live in.

Gary said that the biggest project this year was the complete re-vamp of the bed at the chemist car park, which began in February in removing all the existing shrubs – of which most were re-cycled to the war memorial garden – and planting up pollinating shrubs in May.

Another success, done by volunteer Jessie, was the Alexander Anderson Memorial Garden which honours the railwayman, poet and librarian who was the author of the famous poem about the wakeful bairnies, Cuddle Doon.

And they have also been delighted to work with the Brownies who planted up containers in Mavisbank Park which provided a riot of colour with pollinating plants cosmos, echiums and calendula.

No doubt the villagers will have plenty up their sleeves for another spectacular showing next year.

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