Eileen Murray from Linlithgow, West Lothian, has been crowned a winner in Central Scotland Forest Trust’s (CSFT) Greatest Greenspace Competition 2013.
The retired nursing sister battled it out with her rakes and spades to win the Green Garden category of the eco-contest. As well as achieving the accolade, Eileen won £100 gardening vouchers to help maintain the green space all year round.
The competition provided aspiring horticulturists across the Central Scotland Forest area with the opportunity to enhance their green credentials and increase the biodiversity of the local area by planting wildflowers in their gardens or allotments.
Eileen has been working on the public gardens at Wateryett in Linlithgow for almost ten years to help create a wonderful greenspace resource and gardening site for local residents.
As well as planting perennial wild flower seeds with local Beavers and Cubs groups to create a diverse array of flowers and provide a wildlife haven, Eileen has been involved in the creation of land art and willow structures to make the garden an attractive focal point for the local community to enjoy.
Eileen Murray said: “I’m thrilled to have been selected as the winner in the Green Garden category of Central Scotland Forest Trust’s competition. I have been working on the garden for over nine years and it’s nice to be recognised for something that I enjoy and feel passionate about.
“I’ve received fantastic support from West Lothian Council and the local community, and with their help, I plan to continue to develop the garden for the benefit of the environment.”
Simon Rennie, Chief Executive at CSFT, said: “We’d like to congratulate Eileen Murray for her fantastic entry to our Greatest Greenspace Competition which aimed to engage locals in protecting the environment.
“We received a number of impressive entries to the contest and it is pleasing to see so many people keen to take part and better their local environment. Eileen Murray’s passion and enthusiasm for gardening and creating a community space is fantastic.”
The other winner in the Greatest Greenspace Competition is Falkirk based Avonbridge Primary School which won the Educational Environment category.
