23 July 2015
Today, the Green
Flag Award scheme has unveiled this year's Award winners - the mark
of a quality park or green space.
In total,
1582 parks, cemeteries, universities, shopping centres and
community gardens in the UK have met the high standard needed to
receive the Green Flag Award or the Green Flag Community
Award.
The Green Flag
Award scheme is also extending internationally,
including Holland, Australia and New
Zealand. For
the first time this year, three parks in the United Arab Emirate of
Abu Dhabi have achieved their Green Flag Award. The award was also
piloted this year in the Republic of Ireland by An
Taisce.
The Green Flag
Awards are judged by an army of more than
700 green space experts, who volunteer their time to
visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict
criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness,
sustainability and community involvement.
International
Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: "We are
delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the
Green Flag Award scheme. All the flags flying this year are a
testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both
staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high
standards demanded by the Green Flag Award."
The full list of parks achieving the Green Flag Award
can be viewed here.