Registration opens for 2023 Green Flag Award for parks

This year we awarded a record number 85 parks and green spaces across Scotland with a Green Flag Award.

Now, we are calling for park managers, communities and those who manage a sustainable park or open space for people and biodiversity to register and join the international scheme in 2023.

The international Green Flag Award acts as a benchmark for recreational outdoor space and celebrates quality green spaces across the country. The Award also recognises those who manage sites, whether local authority staff, volunteers from the local community or a combination of both.

If you are a park manager or community and would like to apply for an award, registration opened today, 1 December. All you need to do is check that the park meets the award criteria, that you have a management plan in place that is regularly reviewed, and then email parks@keepscotlandbeautiful.org.

The Green Flag Award highlights to visitors that sites are well managed for people and biodiversity. On top of this, the Award creates additional publicity for the park which encourages new users and increases the sense of pride and ownership in the area.

This year Wilton Lodge Park in the Scottish Borders achieved the Green Flag Award for the fourth year with the Walled Garden volunteers being awarded with Volunteer Team of the Year at the Best of the Best awards.

Reflecting on the hard work that goes in to taking care of the site, Lisa Brydon, who works in the park and was also named Employee of the Year spoke of the sense of achievement that the recognition through the Green Flag Award provides.

Lisa said: “Achieving this award not only benefits one person, but a whole raft of people who are committed to making our outdoor spaces such a pleasure to enjoy”.

Jamie Ormiston, Beaches and Parks Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “We have had a record-breaking year for Green Flag Award in Scotland in 2022 and would love to continue that trend next year.

“With 85 parks achieving the Green Flag Award and a further four awards coming to Scotland from the UK wide Best of the Best, we have seen our green spaces are not only some of the best in the UK but the best in the world.

“We know there are many more spaces out there which are a lifeline to the communities around them, providing a safe space to meet friends and family, exercise, or recharge in nature and we want to celebrate those too.

“Any green space can be considered as long as it is actively managed and free to for visitors to enter. Currently we have hospital gardens, community growing spaces, traditional Victorian parks and even a windfarm awarded in Scotland. No space is too big or too small so please get in touch to discuss an application today.”

A detailed map of all Scotland’s Green Flag sites can be found here.

Get in touch with us today to find out more about who we can support to new applicants and to register today for 2023 at parks@keepscotlandbeautiful.org

Across the UK 2,208 parks have achieved the award this year, with thousands internationally scooping the award too.

Keep Scotland Beautiful runs the scheme under license from Keep Britain Tidy