Call for Olympic effort to make your area the Best Kept

The SuperValu Best Kept Awards were launched recently with a call for new volunteers to take part in the scheme and for communities to pull together to make the most of their local environment during the Olympic year.

The awards are organised annually by the Northern Ireland Amenity Council (NIAC) and sponsored by retail group SuperValu and its independent retail partners across Northern Ireland.

Last year Garvey Court, Lisburn won the title of Northern Ireland’s Best Kept Small Housing Area, while Beechlawn School, Hillsborough won a Best Kept School Award.

Doreen Muskett, Chairman of NIAC commented: “We are calling for more community groups in the Lisburn area to get involved in projects to preserve our local environment and encouraging people to get involved at a grass roots level. There are hundreds of volunteers in improvement committees across Northern Ireland who work hard to create beautifully cared for towns and villages and they would no doubt like to hear from new supporters. Likewise we would like to see more schools, housing areas and healthcare facilities take up the Best Kept challenge this year.”

Entrants in all categories are judged on a range of criteria, including the absence of litter and evidence of community participation in local initiatives. Green-fingered public floral displays and wildlife planting schemes both feature prominently among winning entries.

The closing date for the Best Kept Town, Village and Housing Area Awards is April 20. Healthcare Facility Awards close on May 25 and the Schools category is open until March 2. Anyone interested in getting involved can contact NIAC on 9040 3681 or visit www.niacbestkept.com for more information.