FOUR groups from Inverclyde have been recognised by environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful for their work to improve their communities for climate, nature and people.

Of the quartet, two – Blooming Inverkip and Wellington Allotment Gardens Association - received a Certificate of Distinction, presented to groups displaying continuous improvements over a four-year period as part of the It’s Your Neighbourhood initiative.

The 2023 Beautiful Scotland and It’s Your Neighbourhood annual event took place virtually on December 5 where the positive efforts of more than 200 groups from 27 local authority areas across the country were celebrated.

Belville Community Garden Trust, Blooming Inverkip, and Wellington Allotment Gardens Association all received an 'outstanding' certificate for this year, while Branchton Gardening Club was noted as 'advancing'.

Juliette Camburn, senior community initiatives officer with Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Our annual celebration of the inspiring efforts of people across Scotland who work tirelessly to improve their own neighbourhoods and communities is always such a happy event.

“Each and every It’s Your Neighbourhood entrant recognised has made a lasting contribution, however small or large to combat climate change, restore nature and biodiversity, tackle litter and improve the places they care for.

“I’d like to congratulate and thank all entrants, alongside the 27 volunteers we work with, for all they do to make their community a cleaner, greener and more sustainable place.”

It’s Your Neighbourhood is Keep Scotland Beautiful’s community environmental improvement initiative which is managed in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

It runs alongside Beautiful Scotland but is non-competitive and is based on the three pillars of community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement.

A full list of entrants and their achievements can be found at www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/IYN.