Green Flag Award

The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the UK

It was first launched in 1996 to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. The first awards were given in 1997 and, many years later, it continues to provide the high level of quality against which our parks and green spaces are measured. It is also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve high environmental standards, setting a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.

What's more, winning a Green Flag Award can generate excellent publicity for a site. Both the media and the public are becoming increasingly aware that a site flying a Green Flag is a high-quality green space, which can only boost its popularity.

The Green Flag Award is one of a number of accreditation schemes that recognises excellence in the management of our public space. Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful also manages the Beach and Marina Awards and Green Key Awards for the hospitality sector. These Award programme show a commitment from business owners and local authorities that the area you are visiting is managed to high standards, which have been independently verified.

The scheme is now running in Ireland, The Netherlands, Germany and Australia. 2022/23 was another successful year for Green Flag Awards in Northern Ireland, with 93 parks and green spaces now flying the Green Flag!

Applying for a Green Flag Award

For more information on the Green Flag Award, please contact Chris Wood.

To download the full list of criteria used to judge Green Flag sites, click here.

If you are a community site, please visit our Green Flag Community Award page.

Green Flag Award winning sites in Northern Ireland

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

1. Antrim Castle Gardens (Heritage)
2. Antrim/Belmont & Six Mile Cemetery
3. Antrim Loughshore and and Gateway
4. Ballynure Old Graveyard
5. Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Hazelbank Park and Gideons Green
6. Kilbride Cemetery
7. Lilian Bland Park
8. Mallusk Cemetery 
9. Mill Race Trail
10. Newtownabbey Way
11. Randalstown Riverside Walk
12. Rashee Cemetery
13. Sentry Hill Historic House & Visitor Centre (Heritage)
14. Sixmile Water Park
15. Valley Park (V36 and Glas-na-braden Glen)
16. Wallace Park
17. Crumlin Glen
18. Threemile Water Park

Ards and North Down Borough Council

1. Ballymenoch Park
2. Castle Park
3. Kiltonga Nature Reserve
4. Linear Park Bangor 
5. Londonderry Park

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

1. ABC Canal Greenway
2. Brownstown Park
3. Clare Glen
4. Gosford Forest Park
5. Loughbrickland Park
6. Portadown People's Park
7. Scarva Park
8. Tannaghmore Gardens
9. The Palace Demesne

Belfast City Council

1. Barnett Demesne
2. Belfast Botanic Gardens (Heritage)
3. Belmont Park
4. Cavehill Country Park
5. Connswater Community Greenway
6. Drumglass Park 
7. Dunmurry Village
8. Dunville Park
9. Falls Park 
10. Grove Park
11. Half Moon Lake
12. Knocknagoney Park
13. Lagan Meadows 
14. Musgrave Park
15. Ormeau Park
16. Roselawn Cemetery
17. Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
18. Tullycarnet Park
19. Waterworks Park
20. Woodvale Park

Department of Finance

1. Stormont Estate and Park (Heritage)

Derry City & Strabane District Council

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

1. Bells Lane Allotments Incorporating Bells Lane Park & Lisburn BMX track
   
2. Billy Neil MBE Country Park
   
3. Castle Gardens
4. Moat Park
5. Moira Demense
6. Wallace Park
7. Sir Milne Barbour Memorial Park

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

1. Eden Allotment Gardens 
2. Ecos Nature Park 
3. Carnfunnock Country Park

Mid Ulster District Council

1. Dungannon Park
2. Davagh Forest Park 
3. Maghera Walled Garden
4. Hill of the O'Neill

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

1. Kilbroney Park
2. Newry Canal  (Heritage)
3. Slieve Gullion Forest Park
4. Warrenpoint Municipal Park (Heritage)
5. Delamont Country Park

Queen's University Belfast

1. Queen's University Belfast (Heritage)

Green Flag Community Award