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
Fermanagh & Omagh District Council
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.
Managed in Northern Ireland by
