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. 2020/21 was a successful year for Green Flag Awards in Northern Ireland with even more Award winning sites, we now have 78 parks and green spaces flying the Green Flag!

Green Flag Award winning sites in Northern Ireland:

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

Antrim Castle Gardens (Heritage)
Antrim/Belmont Cemetery
Antrim Loughshore and and Gateway
Ballynure Old Graveyard
Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Hazelbank Park and Gideons Green
Kilbride Cemetery
Lilian Bland Park
Mallusk Cemetery
Mill Race Trail
Newtownabbey Way
Randalstown Riverside Walk
Rashee Cemetery
Sentry Hill Historic House & Visitor Centre (Heritage)
Sixmile Water Park
Valley Park (V36 and Glas-na-braden Glen)
Wallace Park

Ards and North Down Borough Council

Ballymenoch Park
Castle Park
Kiltonga Nature Reserve
Linear Park Bangor
Londonderry Park

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council

ABC Canal Greenway
Brownstown Park
Edenvilla Park
Gosford Forest Park
Lurgan Public Park
Loughbrickland Park
Portadown People's Park
Solitude Park
Tannaghmore Gardens
The Palace Demesne

Belfast City Council

Barnett Demesne
Belfast Botanic Gardens (Heritage)
Belmont Park
Cavehill Country Park
Connswater Community Greenway
Drumglass Park
Dunmurry Village
Dunville Park
Falls Park
Grove Park
Half Moon Lake
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 (Heritage)

Derry City & Strabane District Council

Brooke Park (Heritage)

Fermanagh & Omagh District Council

Grange Park
Broadmeadow

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

Bells Lane Allotments Incorporating Bells Lane Park & Lisburn BMX track
Billy Neil MBE Country Park
Castle Gardens
Moat Park
Moira Demense
Wallace Park

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

Carnfunnock Country Park
Greenland Cemetery
Ecos Nature Park
Eden Allotment Garden

Mid Ulster District Council

Dungannon Park
Maghera Walled Garden
Hill of the O'Neill

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

Kilbroney Park
Newry Canal
Slieve Gullion Forest Park
Warrenpoint Municipal Park

Queen's University Belfast

Queen's University Belfast (Heritage)

Green Flag Community Award

Ballyeaston Church Ruin - Ballyeaston Village Committee
Rathfern Activity Centre - Rathfern Community Regeneration Group
Sentry Hill Community Garden - Sentry Hill Community Garden Group
Toome Linear Park - TIDAL
Shellinghill Park and Millennium Path- Cullybackey Community Partnership

Congratulations to all the Green Flag Award winners 2020

For more information on Green Flag for Awards please contact Nicola Fitzsimons or Jamie Miller

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