Wednesday September 30th 2026
GGCA 2026 Gold Sustainability Award - St Ronan’s Wells Community Garden – Gold (category winner), •Coldstream Community Larder
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
It was green for gold, silver and bronze this week as environmentally-friendly communities from across the Scottish Borders came together.
Scottish Borders Council’s Greener Gateway Community Awards 2026 were staged on Monday, September 28, at the Inspire Learning building in Tweedbank.
The awards celebrate the achievements of community groups, projects, schools, towns and villages.
All were recognised at the prize-giving event for their outstanding efforts to make their communities more vibrant, sustainable and environmentally-friendly.
Awards were presented by Councillor Carol Hamilton, East Berwickshire councillor and SBC’s Executive Member for Housing and Culture; Councillor Jenny Linehan, for Leaderdale and Melrose, Executive Member for Environment, Sustainability and Transport; and Councillor John Greenwell, Mid Berwickshire, Executive Member for Roads and Public Space.
Categories this year included Border Biodiversity, Cultivating Communities and Sustainability.
Entrants received bronze, silver or gold awards.
The category winners were SAC Consulting for the Border Biodiversity Award, Greener Peebles for the Cultivating Communities Award and St Ronan’s Wells Community Garden for the Sustainability Award.
The Schools Award showcased projects carried out by pupils to promote sustainability and address themes including climate action, good health and well-being, biodiversity, food growing and community partnership working.
Schools entered at either primary or secondary level. Each submission was judged independently and awarded points against the competition criteria, with the final score determining whether it received a Bronze, Silver or Gold award. The highest-scoring submission at each level was named the overall primary or secondary winner.
Schools from across the Borders again submitted a wide range of projects, with entries receiving Bronze, Silver or Gold awards.
St Peter’s Primary School was named the overall primary winner, while Eyemouth High School was named the overall secondary winner.
These Best in Category awards recognised the highest-scoring submission at each entry level.
Both schools also received a £250 voucher to spend on relevant equipment or materials to support the continuation of their projects.
The Greener Gateway Community Awards recognise and celebrate the civic pride, volunteering and skills that help keep the region’s towns and villages looking cared for. They place particular emphasis on the individuals and groups helping to tackle the effects of climate change.
Full list of entrants and awards:
Border Biodiversity Award
Greener Peebles – Silver
Chirnside Common Good Association – Silver
Bright Green Nature – Gold
SAC Consulting – Gold (category winner)
Bowden Village Committee – Gold
Keeping Duns Blooming Marvellous, A Heart For Duns – Bronze
Cultivating Communities Award
Greener Peebles – Gold (category winner)
Lilliesleaf Community Development Ltd – Gold
Burnfoot Community Futures – Gold
Sustainability Award
St Ronan’s Wells Community Garden – Gold (category winner)
Eildon Housing Association – Bronze
Coldstream Community Larder – Gold
Keeping Duns Blooming Marvellous, A Heart For Duns – Bronze
Eat Sleep Ride – Gold
Schools Award
Broomlands Primary School – Silver
Burnfoot Community School – Gold
Berwickshire High School – Bronze
Ednam Primary School – Silver
Eyemouth High School – Gold (overall secondary winner)
Galashiels Academy – Silver (community project)
Galashiels Academy – Silver (school garden)
Hawick High School – Gold
Jedburgh Grammar Campus – Gold
Kelso High School – Gold
Leader Valley School – Gold
Selkirk High School – Gold
Sprouston Primary School – Silver
St Margaret’s Primary School – Gold
St Peter’s Primary School – Gold (overall primary winner)
The Greener Gateway Community Awards will return in 2027.
Details of the categories, how to enter and the closing date will be shared on Scottish Borders Council’s social media channels and at www.scotborders.gov.uk/parks-outdoors/greener-gateway-community-awards.
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