IN just a few days’ time, the second Streets Ahead awards will celebrate the people and projects helping to transform Glasgow.
Our award winning campaign has been inspiring people all year in a bid to improve our city, one street at a time.
The ceremony, organised by the Evening Times in conjunction with Clean Glasgow, takes place in the Winter Gardens on Glasgow Green on June 13.
There will be seven category winners – best garden; best community garden; best environmental initiative; best school; best clean-up campaign; best community initiative and the Green Glasgow business award – and one overall champion, chosen by the judges.
Today, we meet the remaining finalists, battling it out to win Best Garden, Best School and the Green Glasgow Business Award.
ANN FOTHERINGHAM reports.
BEST GARDEN
CHARLES ROGERSON
Charles Rogerson has been gardening his whole life. Daughter Angela explains: “My dad spends hours in the garden and everyone is always commenting on how beautiful it is. He doesn’t just cut the grass and plant flowers – he has built walls, put in features…he loves it.”
Charles, 62, who lives in Balornock, is keen to encourage his eight grandchildren – who range in age from three to 22 – to share his love of horticulture.
“My daughter Scarlett loves helping him plant flowers,” smiles Angela. “But I think she takes out more than she puts in!”
GORDON KENDALL
Gordon, from Balornock, takes a lot of pride in his garden and no-one appreciates it more than his parents Annie and Ronald.
“We are both practically housebound because of ill-health, and to be able to look out on a beautiful garden means the world to us,” smiles Annie. “Gordon is unemployed at the moment and gardening has given him a new lease of life. He also helps other elderly residents in the area to look after their gardens.”
BEST SCHOOL
CASTLEMILK HIGH
Pupils from Castlemilk High have worked hard to clear rubbish from the gardens at Castlemilk Stables, the restored Georgian building rescued from ruin by local campaigners. The students wanted to give something back to the community.
As well as clearing up, they have weeded and planted to encourage wildlife and turn an overgrown, unused space into a beautiful place to visit. They also plant and grow vegetables.
Feedback from the community has been very positive and the school now plans to continue work over the summer holidays and into the next term.
HOLYCROSS PRIMARY
Many children who attend Holy Cross Primary in Govanhill don’t have access to gardens at home, so the school’s decision to create a whole raft of outdoor initiatives in its grounds has been life-changing.
Children now have a sensory garden, butterfly and bee garden, lots of new play equipment and the chance to grow their own food in a kitchen garden.
Parents and local businesses have helped out and the whole community is delighted to have such a valuable resource on its doorstep.
ST VINCENT’S PRIMARY
Children at St Vincent’s Primary in have helped to turn a derelict piece of land into a vibrant area for play, relaxation and gardening.
They have named it their Field of Dreams, and it is now used by a local nursery, autism unit, elderly people’s home and residents.
They also grow their own fruit and vegetables, and have planted more than 50 fruit trees as part of a new children’s orchard project.
GREEN GLASGOW BUSINESS AWARD
MCDONALD’S TRONGATE
The hard-working staff of McDonald’s Trongate are well known in the area for their dedication to local good causes. They have helped to clean up the Citizen’s Rose Garden, litter-pick regularly in the city centre and recently helped to lift 50 bags of rubbish from around the Barras area of the east end.
ALLIED INTERNATIONAL
Allied International’s commitment to keeping Glasgow clean and green has been demonstrated throughout the year by a number of fantastic initiatives.
They run recycling campaigns, support Earth Hour and the World Wildlife Fund, organise awareness-raising campaigns for energy and water saving initiatives and encourage staff to take part in a raft of phsycial activities.
GLASGOW WOOD RECYCLING
This social enterprise and charity started up in 2007 with the aim of helping local businesses to reduce the amount of wood sent needlessly to landful.
Six years on and they have become a successful and inspirational project, providing opportunities for socially disadvantaged people to learn new skills, gain confidence and help their local communities.
They use the wood to help eco schools, community projects and workshops as well as providing training and volunteering schemes for local residents.