Article Source: Newtongrange Community Council
Last Updated: 1 April 2025 13:27
Newtongrange Community Council has announced the launch of the 2025 Newtongrange Garden Competition, with prizes up for grabs in a number of categories including Best Garden, Best Pots and Baskets, Best Wild Garden, Best Fruit and Veg, Best Flowers and Best Young Gardener. Competition to win these coveted cups is set to be especially high this year, as green-fingered locals celebrate 150 years of horticultural heritage in the village.
According to the local history and reminiscence group, Newtongrange Village Voices, the roots of this historic garden competition can be traced back 150 years. A Horticultural Society was formed in the village in 1875, and its first annual show was held in September that year.
Commenting on the village’s proud history, June Robertson of Newtongrange Village Voices explained; “Newtongrange was built as a model village with large back gardens and small front gardens. Vegetables were grown in back gardens and flowers were usually planted in the front gardens. Miners spent a good part of their day working hard underground, and enjoyed pastimes such as gardening which let them enjoy sunshine and fresh air.”
And it’s a traditional pastime that the Newtongrange Community Council was keen to revive, with members of the voluntary group resurrecting the village garden competition in 2023. Since then, interest in the annual contest has gained momentum, with a high number of entries expected this year.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Jeremy Adderley, Chair of Newtongrange Community Council said; “The mining families of Newtongrange village supported their families with home grown food, particularly useful in wartime, so every home had to have space to grow. Many of our homes retain lovely outdoor spaces, which although these days are more commonly planted for simple enjoyment than the larder, gardens flourish everywhere, benefiting us all with green space and diversity. The Newtongrange Community Council is proud to reinvigorate the village garden competition on the 150th anniversary of its creation to acknowledge the passion and effort of our community.”
The 2025 Newtongrange Garden Competition is open to all residents of Newtongrange.
Entrants must email secretary@newtongrange.org by Sunday 1st June 2025 to register their interest. Judging will take place on Sunday 8th June, with celebrations to follow at a later date in Newtongrange Community Garden.
During renovation work at CoDE The Court, a rare 19th-century Crossley ‘Otto Silent’ engine, one of only three in existence, was discovered tucked away in the attic.
READ MOREAn initiative which helps innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused scaleup companies to maximise their full commercial potential is now open for 2025 applications.
READ MOREBuilding on the success of its immersive experiences, Six by Nico is set to take diners on an adventure across the Six Wonders of the World!
READ MOREPaisley Food and Drink Festival returns on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th April for its biggest event yet with an extended site and more vendors than ever before!
READ MOREBritain’s biggest independent brewer, BrewDog, is giving away 5,000 warm cans of Wingman at Edinburgh Waverley station on Thursday 17th April.
READ MOREThis April, Edinburgh - the world’s foremost festival city, will welcome the Arts Festivals Summit 2025, the premier annual gathering of Europe’s most visionary festival makers.
READ MOREFoodie favourite, Luxford Burgers, has made the shortlist in the Best Burger and American category at Deliveroo Restaurant Awards and hopes to be crowned culinary champions for a second year.
READ MORERosa's Thai and Uber Eats have launched the Songkran Supper Club – a limited-edition food experience inspired by Thai New Year, designed to spark meaningful conversations across generations.
READ MOREOn 16th June, Chef de Cuisine Mathew Sherry and the team at Number One in The Balmoral, Edinburgh will welcome Jean Trimbach, of world-renowned Maison Trimbach winery for an exclusive dinner.
READ MOREThe National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust have teamed up to give an insight into the complexity of the Battle of Culloden in a pair of podcasts this April.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres is hosting a very special FREE Grow How event in stores across the UK this May in partnership with Alzheimer's Research UK to mark Dementia Action Week.
READ MOREApril 2025 - Lost Shore Surf Resort, Europe’s largest inland surfing destination, has announced Scotland’s first professional surfer, Ben Larg (20 years) as its official ambassador.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres are celebrating National Children's Gardening Week by welcoming families along to its Children's Planting and Afternoon Tea experience on Saturday 31st May.
READ MOREThis Easter, get ready to bounce into an unforgettable adventure at Gravity Active.
READ MOREFort Kinnaird has confirmed its opening hours for the upcoming Easter bank holiday weekend and is inviting families to enjoy a packed programme of fun, food and entertainment!
READ MOREThe Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has teamed up with the Consulate General of India in Edinburgh to offer a night of fine Indian single malt whisky tasting.
READ MOREOne of mountaineering’s leading figures, Mike Raine, is launching his new book at Alpkit Edinburgh on 17th April to share his best ‘tales from the trails’.
READ MOREForever Edinburgh has launched a brand-new Edinburgh: Accessible Highlights Guide in partnership with award-winning Edinburgh-based disabled access charity, Euan’s Guide.
READ MORECapital Theatres, Aberdeen Performing Arts and Eden Court Highlands have launched a unique opportunity to support Scottish theatremakers and create accessible new work for young audiences.
READ MORERockstar Energy presents TRNSMT has announced the BBC Introducing Stage, previously River Stage, will showcase 20 of the most exciting emerging artists in the country.
READ MOREOn 8th April, Ben & Jerry’s is throwing its annual Free Cone Day celebration at participating scoop shops in Edinburgh!
READ MOREA community restaurant and bar in Edinburgh’s Morningside will be staging an eggs-citing line-up of free family-friendly events this Easter Sunday (20th April).
READ MOREThe Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) has welcomed a new resident, 11-month-old Rodney, the capybara. The male joins his new Edinburgh Zoo roommates Luna and Cali, who arrived in February.
READ MOREBassoonist Emily Crump was named the overall winner of the Edinburgh Scottish Young Musicians final and will represent Edinburgh at Solo Performer of the Year 2025.
READ MOREThe National Trust for Scotland is hopping into spring as it hosts 40 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care in April!
READ MOREResidents of a Midlothian village are being encouraged to roll up their sleeves and start sowing and growing ahead of the return of a historic garden competition this summer.
READ MOREEdinburgh craft brewer Cold Town Beer has been selected to be official sponsor of Neighbourgood, the open air artisan food and drink market that returns to the city’s Stockbridge area this summer.
READ MORESome of the biggest names in Scottish hospitality have come together for the first time to showcase Edinburgh’s waterfront in Leith as Scotland’s premier dining destination.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s iconic brunch destination, Pantry, is opening its second location in Bruntsfield and to celebrate it is offering 50 free breakfasts split between Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd April.
READ MOREInnis & Gunn joins forces with top Scottish comedian Marc Jennings to find Scotland's funniest pub stories for 'The Book of Pub Banter & Confessions'.
READ MORE