Judges from the prestigious RHS Britain in Bloom competition visited Aberdeen to decide if the city is the best in the country.
The visit yesterday, which came a week after Beautiful Scotland judges were also in the city, started with Britain in Bloom chairman of the judging panel Roger Burnett and senior judge Jim Goodwin meeting community groups.
The tour of the city started in Duthie Park and included the school “design a flowerbed” competition winners, viewing community, a visit to a winning entrant in ACC’s Bloom Garden Competition, through residential areas, community allotments, beekeepers, social enterprise groups, Hazlehead Park, a Clean Aberdeen, a school garden, through the city centre, Union Terrace Gardens, St Nicholas Street Roof Garden, the countryside rangers service, and finishing with a stroll along Cathedral Walk in Seaton Park.
Mr Goodwin said: “I haven’t been in Aberdeen for about 30 years and coming back is a big experience for me as I knew David Welch, the late director of parks in Aberdeen, and it’s nice to see how his memory has been kept in the David Welch Winter Gardens.”
Lord Provost Barney Crockett said: “The community groups and city council staff have done a wonderful job of ensuring our parks and green spaces are at their best so it’s fantastic so many of them have met the judges.”
Aberdeen is competing against Elswick, Harrogat, Hillsborough, Oldham, Portishead and St Peter Port for the title of Champion of Champions, the ultimate Britain in Bloom award.
The results of this year’s competition will be announced at the Britain in Bloom awards ceremony in Llandudno, North Wales, on October 27.
