Groups get together to celebrate Cumbernauld environmental awards

And their key aim was to emphasise how everyone is working together to make the town look its very best.

Last week we told how three local groups brought back silver medals for their giant volunteer effort in improving the appearance of Cumbernauld.

Those organisations were Cumbernauld Environmental Group, Cumbernauld Village Action for the Community plus Condorrat Tenants and Residents Association. The latter had won an additional award for the memorial wall and special mining-inspired signage it has created.

To add to that triumph, Cumbernauld was the town in North Lanarkshire which won the most awards – in a move that is helping it to shake off its concrete jungle tag.

And the result is being seen as a major boost to a town which looks all the better for the efforts that have been made by dedicated gardeners – in all weathers too.

YMCA, Dullatur Community Council, the Alpha Project, Watch Us Grow, Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park, Friends of Cumbernauld House Park, allotment keepers and Palacerigg staff – all were among the volunteers who pitched in with three organisations to bring back those awards.

Not everyone was able to attend the presentation ceremony which took place on the Isle of Bute – so Cumbernauld Environmental Group arranged another ceremony up at Palacerigg Country Park where Watch Us Grow is based.

CEG’s Margaret Smillie said: “We decided that it was a pity that everyone who worked so hard and with such enthusiasm should miss out in the moment of glory.’’

As a result special award from this second presentation has now taken pride of place at Watch Us Grow – which caters to gardeners who have special needs or a mental health problem.

The organisers would also like to thank Ann McCulloch and her staff for the hospitality they were kind enough to provide at the photocall.

Meanwhile the groups aren’t sitting on their laurels – as the intention next year is to go for gold!