AS the evening sun streamed through the spectacular glass roof, Glasgow's green-fingered residents sparkled.

They clapped and cheered in the People's Palace and Winter Gardens at Glasgow Green as each of them was rewarded for the hours they have dedicated to transforming pockets of the city into oases of beauty.

Among those being celebrated at the Evening Times Streets Ahead Awards were groups that have transformed previously vandalised and neglected spaces into beautiful gardens.

There were projects that have inspired hundreds of people to take part in outdoor activities and schools that have made the most of their green space to encourage pupils to appreciate the environment.

Pupils from Holy Cross Primary and St Vincent's Primary, who were runners-up in the Best Schools category, smiled and laughed as they collected their certificates.

Many children who attend Holy Cross Primary don't have access to gardens at home, so teachers, pupils and parents worked together to build an outdoor space.

Claire Gray, depute headteacher at Holy Cross, said they were "super excited" to be nominated.

Children at St Vincent's have created a 'Field of Dreams' by transforming a derelict piece of land on the school grounds.

Brian Tracey, principal teacher at St Vincent's, said: "Streets Ahead is a great way for schools and other organisations to get a wee bit of recognition and celebrate their achievements."

John Wheatley College's Enhanced Vocational Inclusion Programme (EVIP) construction students, who worked hard to transform a vandal-hit garden at Lamlash Nursery School in the East End, were runners-up in the Best Clean Up Campaign, alongside Balmoral Terrace Residents Association.

Tony Halifax, 66, of the Balmoral Terrace Residents' Association – which transformed a local strip of neglected and overgrown grass into a community garden – said: "The good thing about Streets Ahead is, if it is done right, it does involve more people in the community."

The Children's Wood at North Kelvin Meadow and the Fortune Garden, in Drumchapel, were runners-up in the Best Environmental Initiative.

Fortune Gardens is a garden centre run by David Stewart and the gardening group from Enable Glasgow, Fortune Works.

David, 49, said it was absolutely brilliant to be nominated.

The Children's Wood is a community garden for young people which was created by local volunteers and now attracts thousands of people every year.

Riikka Gonzalez, 40, said: "A lot of hard work has gone in from the whole community – people use the space."

Cathcart Old Garden Team, who manage the grounds at Cathcart Old Parish Church, and Battlefield Community Project, who transformed a neglected garden, were runners-up for the Best Community Garden Award.

Battlefield resident David Bradford said: "It is inspiring to hear what other groups have achieved, particularly those working in some of the city's most disadvantaged areas."

Runners-up in the Best Community Initiative were GHA's Area Committees and the Friends of Rosshall Park & Gardens.

Maureen Maher, 81, treasurer of the Rosshall group, which was formed to give locals a say in the future development of the historic South Side gardens, said: "I think Streets Ahead helps people to do something."

Robert McCormick, chairman of Glasgow North Area Committee, said he was delighted the hard work of tenants and their communities had been recognised.

He said: "It's long overdue – the committees do so much for everyone."

Allied International Credit, whose staff are involved in a range of environmental initiatives, were runners-up in the Green Glasgow Business Award category.

And the Best Garden runner-up was Charles Rogerson, an enthusiastic gardener who works hard to maintain his patch in Balornock.

His daughter, Angela Rogerson, collected the award.

She said: "My dad's on holiday at the moment but he would have loved to have been part of this evening."

matty.sutton@eveningtimes.co.uk