Nitten residents encouraged to dig for victory

Residents 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.

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.

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