The UK Green Apple Awards are responding to the requests of numerous Scottish contenders by arranging a stand-alone event for Scotland. The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is supporting a new initiative to recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice by companies, councils and communities in Scotland.

There is no entry fee and winners will be given free tickets for the glittering presentation ceremony at Edinburgh Castle in September.

National Organiser Roger Wolens said: “We have always had a lot of interest from Scotland, with an increasing number of entries and winners.

“But with the onset of the recession, winners are finding it increasingly difficult to justify a visit to London to collect their awards and network with other winners.

“It is a shame if they win and then cannot maximise the PR and photo opportunities presented by the House of Commons event, so we are solving the problem for them, with the help of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (www.rehis.com).

“We have always aimed to make the Green Apple Awards totally accessible to anyone doing anything for the environment, so we will do everything we can to make it as easy as possible for everyone to get the recognition they deserve for their environmental endeavours.”