Crowning Glory

It's Official
Bute IS Beautiful
crowned 'the most beautiful in Scotland'

Rothesay was crowned champion of the Beautiful Scotland campaign, winning the coveted Rosebowl Trophy - the top prize in the prestigious competition announced in September 2010

As if that wasn't enough, the town also took home the Coastal Resort Trophy, a gold medal certificate in the coastal resort category, and a Special Endeavour Award for St Andrews Primary School, for their efforts in brightening up Watergate with the creation of a wildflower garden, and wall murals made from recycled items.

In the 2009 campaign, Rothesay won the Rosebowl Reserve Trophy and a gold medal, for achieving an "exceptionally high standard throughout all Beautiful Scotland objectives".

This year, Rothesay beat out competition from 74 other communities in Scotland – a feat recognised by MP Jim Mather: "The huge efforts made by a wide cross section of Rothesay people to improve the town's focus on biodiversity and the environment have been rightly recognised".

He continued, "Rothesay in securing the Rosebowl Trophy, the title of Scotland's most Beautiful Community and, additionally, the Coastal Resort Award, has demonstrated that hard work and civic pride bring forward well deserved success.

"Rothesay's efforts, co-ordinated by Ailsa Cunningham in her role as environmental warden with Argyll & Bute Council and ably supported by elected members, officials and the people of Bute are to be heartily commended."

Representing Rothesay at the awards ceremony were Paul Simpson from Argyll College - who assisted St. Andrew's School in their project, and Argyll and Bute Council's environmental warden Ailsa Cunningham, who said, "We are absolutely delighted.

"There has been a lot of people who have put in an awful lot of hard work to do this for Rothesay and we're delighted for everyone's sake. Rothesay really is the jewel of the Clyde."

John Summers OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, and master of ceremonies at the Awards told those in attendance during the evening, "Beautiful Scotland celebrates the communities which are working to improve and enhance their local areas through environmental education, recycling, and encouraging litter-free environments as well as horticulture."

He continued, "These awards presented today go some way to recognising all the hard work that volunteers and local authorities put in throughout the year to ensure that visitors and local community members are able to enjoy clean, sustainable and beautiful surroundings."

On a local basis, Councillor Robert Macintyre, Argyll and Bute Council's Environmental and Rural Affairs Spokesperson says "For years Rothesay has been knocking on the door for the ultimate prize, this year we have achieved it with a clean sweep of the awards.

"This is a fantastic feat by the Grounds Maintenance Team on Bute, my heartiest congratulations go to all of them. Everyone on our island should feel extremely proud of them''

Courtesy of 'The Buteman' 1 Oct 2010
www.buteman.co.uk