Flowers of Scotland

NICOLA LISLE LOOKS AT SCOTTISH SUCCESS STORIES IN THE PRESTIGIOUS BRITAIN IN BLOOM COMPETITION

Every summer, Scotland's cities, towns and villages are ablaze with colour as floral decorations of every description blossom into full glory. This profusion of flowers occurs thanks to Beautiful Scotland in Bloom, an offshoot of Britain in Bloom, the inspirational competition that sprang into life 40 years ago.

Britain in Bloom was the brainchild of horticultural journalist Ron Hay, who noticed an abundance of flowers lining the streets during a visit to France in the summer of 1963.

This turned out to be part of a nation-wide crusade to make France more beautiful, and he was inspired to create a similar initiative back in the United Kingdom.

Forty years on, Britain in Bloom has become Europe's most influential, and arguably most important, horticultural campaign.

The Beautiful Scotland in Bloom competition, which began in 1966, mirrors the structure and aims of the national competition, but at a local level. Regional judging takes place every July, and the best entries are selected to go forward into Britain in Bloom, in which Scotland has enjoyed considerable success.

But Britain in Bloom is not just about winning, nor is it just about flowers. It is about evoking community spirit and pride, and over the last few years has put increasing emphasis on issues such as long-term planning and conservation, strategies to reduce litter, graffiti and vandalism, and the imaginative planting of trees and shrubs.

The Royal Horticultural Society, which took over from the Tidy Bri...

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• By : Nicola Lisle
• In : Outdoor Scotland
• Issue : 9
• Page : 70
• Words : 943