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 be a boost to 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.

View the Green Flag Award website.

Welcoming Diversity

Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. We realise that all green spaces are different and this diversity is welcomed, with each site being judged on its own merits and suitability to the community it serves.

Since its launch, the Green Flag Award has gone from strength to strength, with the number of applicants increasing every year.

The scheme is now running in Ireland, The Netherlands, Germany and Australia. 2018/19 was a successful year for Green Flag Awards in Northern Ireland with even more Award winning sites, we now have 71 parks and green spaces flying the Green Flag!

Green Flag Award winning sites in Northern Ireland:

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Antrim Castle Gardens & Clotworthy House Heritage Award
Antrim/Belmont Cemetery
Ballynure Cemetery
Kilbride Cemetery
Rashee Cemetery
Newtownabbey Way
Six Mile Water Park
Lilian Bland Park
Valley Park (V36 & Glas-na-braden Glen)
Mallusk Cemetery
Rashee Cemetery
Mill Race Trail
Wallace Park
Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Hazelbank Park & Gideons Green
Sentry Hill Historic House & Visitor Centre Heritage Award

Ards and North Down Borough Council

Kiltonga Nature Reserve
Castle Park
Londonderry Park
Ballymenoch Park

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

ABC Canal Greenway
Lough Neagh Conservation Area
The Mall Armagh City Heritage Award
Edenvilla Park
Dromore Town Park
Solitude Park
Scarva Park
Tannaghmore Gardens
Lurgan Public Park
Loughgall Country Park
Portadown Peoples Park

Belfast City Council

Belfast Botanic Gardens Heritage Award
Barnett Demesne
Belmont Park
Cavehill Country Park
Connswater Community Greenway
Dunville Park
Dunmurry Village
Falls Park 
Half Moon Lake
Barnett Demesne
Grove Park
Knocknagoney Park
Lagan Meadows
Musgrave Park
Ormeau Park
Roselawn Cemetery
Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
Tullycarnet Park
Waterworks Park
Woodvale Park

Department of Finance and Personnel

Stormont Estate

Derry City & Strabane District Council

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

Castle Gardens
Wallace Park
Moat Park

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Bashfordsland Wood and Oakfield Glen
Carnfunnock Country Park
Carrickfergus Mill Ponds, Shaftesbury Park & Marine Gardens
Diamond Jubilee Wood
Dixon Park
Ecos Nature Park
Eden Allotment Garden
The People's Park

Mid Ulster District Council

Dungannon Park
Maghera Walled Garden
Hill of the O'Neill

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Slieve Gullion Forest Park
Kilbroney Park

Green Flag Community Award

Ballyeaston Church Ruin

Rathfern Activity Centre

Toome Linear Park

Congratulations to all the Green Flag Award winners 2018

For more information on Green Flag for Awards please contact Nicola Fitzsimons.

Full list of criteria used to judge a green flag sites.