Green Flag Awards Best of the Best wins for Scottish green spaces

Green Flag Award holders from across Scotland were recognised at last night’s Best of the Best awards.

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful presents Green Flag Awards, under license from Keep Britain Tidy, in recognition of the best parks and green spaces across Scotland.

All winners of the international award must demonstrate excellent management and environmental standards annually.

The ceremony, which celebrates parks and green spaces across the UK, was held virtually on 15 November 2022.

Volunteers who care for the Scottish Borders’ Wilton Lodge Park's Walled Garden were named Volunteer Team of the Year while Lisa Brydon, who works at the park, was crowned Employee of the Year.

Lisa said: “Winning the Green Flag Employee of the year award is so exciting and humbling.

“A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to achieve Green Flag status and for an employee to receive recognition is a great boost in the workplace.

“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 for people to enjoy.”

Zetland Park, Grangemouth’s historic public park and a Green Flag Award holder, was the winner in both the Best Celebration Event and the Best Climate Change Adaption at the UK Best of the Best awards.

The Zetland Park grand re-opening, which was held on 28 August, 2022 celebrated the completion of the £2.5 million Heritage Lottery-funded park restoration.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Falkirk Council Leader, said: “The grand re-opening of Zetland Park was one of the highlights of the year for Falkirk Council. I was overjoyed to see the pride our park regeneration project has brought back to the people of Grangemouth.

“Winning Green Flag’s Best Celebration Event category is a huge honour and will swell our community’s hearts even further.”

Councillor Iain Sinclair, Climate Change Portfolio Holder, added: “In the face of the Climate Emergency it’s important that the council do all they can to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“Winning Green Flag’s Best Climate Change Adaptation award will provide encouragement to go further in our response to the Climate Emergency.”

The other Scottish award went to South Lanarkshire’s Strathaven Park, which has been named in the top 10 People’s Choice awards for the eighth year in a row.

The park is the only Scottish site on the list and John Crawford, Amenity Services Officer at South Lanarkshire Council, was proud to see the park recognised once again.

He said: “The council would like to thank everyone involved in making the park such a success, from the management to the maintenance, all the volunteers who organise events, and all the park users who have voted once again to reflect their feelings and place Strathaven in the top 10 in the UK for the eighth year in a row.”

Jamie Ormiston, Beaches & Parks Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “It is wonderful to see the staff and volunteers of some of Scotland’s parks get the national recognition they deserve.

“There are many inspiring projects going on across the country to improve access to Scotland’s green spaces and adapt to the climate emergency and it’s a privilege to be able to celebrate just some of these through the Green Flag Award Best of the Best and People’s Choice.

“We encourage anyone working or volunteering in a green space to consider the Green Flag Award as not only a way to highlight excellent standards but also gain advice and support from peers through the judging process.”

Visit Green Flag Award | Keep Scotland Beautiful for more information.