An early celebration of the value of parks and open spaces for communities, and the contribution of community volunteers to improving green spaces for everyone was marked on Tuesday 22 July 2025.
In the run up to the national Love Parks Week (26 July to 3 August 2025) which highlights the vital role green spaces play in boosting the health and wellbeing of residents and communities, local 'in bloom' charity Beautiful Perth and Perth and Kinross Council will be marking the achievement of two Green Flag Community Awards* from Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) for the Heather Garden and Compassionate Friends Garden, both in Bellwood Riverside Park on the banks of the River Tay in Perth.
The Heather Garden has been a real partnership project between Beautiful Perth and the Council, with discussions beginning in 2011 and work getting underway on site in 2012 to transform and refresh a previously overgrown and less appealing area of the park. The garden now comprises 15 beds containing 600 varieties and over 16,000 heather plants, all maintained and managed by Beautiful Perth, providing year-round colour for visitors and a haven for insect pollinators. The charity was also in 2022 awarded the National Collection of Erica carnea heathers by Plant Heritage. This follows on from the unique achievement of Riverside Park winning Best Park in the UK in the RHS Britain in Bloom Awards in both 2018 and 2019.
The Compassionate Friends Garden was developed to create a picturesque, peaceful garden for reflection and contemplation following a request from the Compassionate Friends UK, a charity that supports bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. In 2012 remedial work done by the Council and Beautiful Perth uncovered a small round turreted stone building dating back to the 1800's on site. The building forms the focal point of the garden, with further work uncovering a waterway and wells. The space was then transformed with sustainable pollinator plants for all year colour and interest by Beautiful Perth volunteers as well as the planting of rowan and snakeskin maple trees with marker stones and a sculpture of a robin. In 2018, Compassionate Friends held their annual gathering in Perth and unveiled a new bench for visitors and at the entrance to the garden, a beautiful carved commemorative stone.
Vice-Convener of Climate Change and Sustainability, Councillor Liz Barrett said: "As we head towards Love Parks Week, the fantastic achievement of Green Flag Awards for these two very different but equally beautiful gardens reflects how vital parks and open spaces are for our health and wellbeing as places to relax, exercise, appreciate the outdoors and nature and much more.
"I'd like to thank Beautiful Perth, and volunteer groups in other parts of Perth and Kinross, for their key role in maintaining and developing green spaces that benefit us all and contribute to improving our environment and biodiversity. Everyone can help, whether by volunteering locally or simply taking a few minutes to feedback to our Community Greenspace team about biodiversity in your local park."
Chair of Beautiful Perth, Gordon Lindsay commented: "Our volunteers over many years have taken a genuine pride in cultivating and maintaining the Compassionate Friends and Heather Gardens to a high standard.
"Both gardens exhibit a unique horticultural skill level appreciated by the many visitors and tourists to Riverside Park and importantly provide an ideal haven for bees, butterflies and other wildlife.
"The Green Flag Awards are the "icing on the cake" for the 'Beautiful Perth' volunteers acknowledging their tireless work and efforts in a special corner of Perth. We would also like to acknowledge and thank our supporters, Perth and Kinross Council, The Gannochy Trust, the Heather Society and Kilmac."
Jamie Ormiston, Training and Accreditation Coordinator at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: "Parks across Scotland are vital spaces for people of all ages to reconnect with nature and I'm delighted we once again have Green Flag Award winners all over the country - including plenty of new areas - for people to enjoy during the summer months.
"The Heather Garden and Compassionate Friends Garden are two of our new Community Award winners and their awards show the dedication, care and commitment of all involved in maintaining and improving Riverside Park.
"Our stalwart winners have a brilliant history of commitment to environmental excellence and a desire to offer visitors a safe and enjoyable place to visit.
"Our new winners have shown a similar desire and their journey is only just beginning but I look forward to many more wins in the future."
*The Green Flag Awards are awarded to parks and green spaces that can demonstrate excellent management and environmental standards. Further information on the Awards can be found at Keep Scotland Beautiful's website.
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