christmas

Christmas in Inverness

CLICK THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT TO WATCH A CLIP.

A short video clip in the Eastgate shopping centre in Inverness.  People were asked “What does Christmas mean to you?”

GWC 25 mile Runners b

Great Wilderness Challenge

CLICK THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT TO WATCH THE TRAILER.

Every year, the picturesque Scottish Highland villages of Poolewe and Aultbea, along with the surrounding country estates, play host to one of Scotland’s most gruelling endurance sporting events for charity. The Great Wilderness Challenge more than aptly lives up to its name.

Against some of the most beautiful and rugged scenic landscape on offer in the United Kingdom, the Challenge consists of a number of physically demanding walks and runs over a variety of distances and terrains.

In early 1986, plans were afoot to provide hospice care in the Highlands for the first time. The Highland Hospice Appeal was set in motion to raise funds for the project, and a Highland-wide campaign was launched in support of this initiative.

A small group of friends in Poolewe and Aultbea, some of whom had recently lost relatives to cancer, decided to do something to help. A sponsored walk was the vehicle chosen to raise funds, and arrangements were quickly made to organise what would become known as the Great Wilderness Challenge.

A DVD of the event including interviews with key personnel and runners is in the process of being produced.

To reserve your copy please contact the secretary of Great Wilderness Challenge,  Pat Ross at patgwc@onetel.com – www.greatwildernesschallenge.info (photo courtesy of Colin Robertson, official photographer of the GWC)

All funds raised from the sale of the DVD will be going straight to Charity.

Image4

Forres in Bloom

CLICK THE IMAGE ON THE LEFT TO WATCH THE TRAILER.

All those months of hard work have paid off as members of the Forres in Bloom committee learned on Friday that Forres has been awarded a prestigious gold award by the Entente Florale Europe competition judges. The announcement was made at a ceremony in Cardiff City Hall. The Chair of the International Jury, Monika Hetsch, gave out the awards.  As Monika introduced Forres she had this to say:

“Forres lies within the temperate climate of the Moray Firth in Scotland. It is a traditional market town with a rich cultural and environmental history and a wealth of architectural buildings both on the High Street and around the town. Central to the town are Grant Park and Cluny Hill, with lovely woodland, well maintained open spaces for informal activity, and high quality seasonal planting schemes providing wonderful colour throughout the year. Led by the Forres in Bloom group, the whole population is fully committed to enhancing the quality of life for visitors and residents through environmental improvement schemes and keeping the town spotlessly clean at all times. The development of footpaths and the management of the Muiry and Sanquhar Woods and Ponds have also created sustainable natural areas of biodiversity close to the centre of the town.
The magnificent floral displays together with the beautiful Grant Park contribute to the Jury’s decision to award Forres a Gold medal”.

Thistle Channel was privileged to be asked to produce a DVD showcasing the town of Forres to the Entente Floral Europe Judges.  The initial request was for a 12minute piece to be used as part of the presentation to the Judges on the morning prior to their tour of Forres.   This led to further work commissioned by the Forres in Bloom committee to produce a 30minute DVD including interviews with key committee members involved in the preparatory work for Entente Floral Europe and in showing more of this remarkable little town.

The DVD is available from most outlets in Forres at a cost of £6, all funds generated will go towards assisting the community in future projects .

To obtain a copy or find out more information on Forres please email ian.maclennan3@btinternet.com

Visit  Forres and be blown away by the  work and stunning displays created when a community combines their skills together as one !

AWARDS

Beautiful Scotland in Bloom

Medium Town Trophy Winner

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

RHS Britain in Bloom

RHS Britain in Bloom Silver Award 2003

RHS Britain in Bloom Silver Gilt Award

2005, 2006, 2007

RHS Britain in Bloom Gold Award 2008

Entente Florale Europe

Gold Medal Award 2009

Beautiful Scotland in Bloom

The Rosebowl – Overall Winner

1983, 1985, 1987

Bruce Trophy – Small Town Winner

1979, 1980. 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986,

1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996

Town Trophy Winner

2004, 2005, 2006

Jim Murdie Trophy for Sustainability

Linton Trophy 1981, 1990

Other Awards

Applegrove Primary School

Greenfingers Winner 1993,1997

Runner Up 1999

RHS Special Award 1998

Bob Hare Award 2001

David Welch Memorial Award for Something Special 2004

Beechgrove Potting Shed Budding Gardeners Award 2006

RHS Britain in Bloom

UK Winners 1982, 1986, 1989, 1999

RHS Britain in Bloom Silver Award

2003

RHS Britain in Bloom Silver Gilt Award

2005

RHS Britain in Bloom Silver Gilt Award 2006

UK Keep Britain Tidy Trophy 1979

UK Landscape Trophy 1984

ECO School Awards

Bronze Anderson‟s Primary 2006

Silver Pilmuir Primary 2009

Green Flag

Applegrove Primary 2006, 2008

Forres Academy 2006,2009