Introduction
Burgh Beautiful is an environmental campaign established by Linlithgow Civic Trust in 2004 with the aim of maintaining and improving the local environment. An initial public meeting attracted about 50 participants and led to the creation of a steering group of about ten people (which functions as a Sub-Committee of Linlithgow Civic Trust), drawn from about 25 group and individual volunteers.
Burgh Beautiful and West Lothian Council work together in close co-operation to make Linlithgow a cleaner, brighter and more welcoming place for both residents and visitors. Floral displays around the town, together with well kept parks and green spaces, combine with the recreational amenities of Linlithgow Loch and the Union Canal to make Linlithgow an attractive town.
West Lothian Council and the recently-established Transition Linlithgow (formerly Linlithgow Climate Challenge) group are working successfully to promote recycling, composting and greater awareness of litter, and all five primary schools and Linlithgow Academy have achieved success in the Eco-Schools Awards. Working with community groups, interested individuals and the schools, the Burgh Beautiful campaign aims to encourage a greater awareness of the landscape and built environment, and increase civic pride in our historic town.
Both Linlithgow Civic Trust and Burgh Beautiful are represented on the Linlithgow and Linlithgow Bridge Town Management Group and, as a result, have been influential on such matters as the introduction of ‘heritage’ lighting, banners and hanging baskets, the selection and location of street furniture including planters, the establishment of a new Linlithgow Heritage Trail, and the upgrading of the public realm with Caithness stone.
In the 2011 Beautiful Scotland awards, Linlithgow won the Medium Town category, received a 'Gold' award, was awarded the Rosebowl Trophy for the best overall entrant and an also received an award for Special Endeavour. Linlithgow has been selected to represent Scotland in the "Town" category in Britain in Bloom in 2012.
The Burgh Beautiful campaign has lately been particularly successful in attracting sponsorship of the town's hanging baskets from public-spirited local businesses, organisations and individuals, and other regular fund-raising events include an annual plant sale, a dog show and a stall at Linlithgow's Advent Fair.
Other important Burgh Beautiful activities include an annual town 'spring-clean', tree planting and community planting events. The campaign seeks to support existing community planting initiatives, particularly the outstanding examples at Water Yett and the West Port flats.
Burgh Beautiful Progress Reports:
Beautiful Scotland:
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Burgh Beautiful
