Green Flag awards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. It was also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas. Any free to enter public park or green space is eligible to apply for an Award. Although the scheme is owned by the Government through the Department for Communities and Local Government, it is managed by the Civic Trust,
Parks and green spaces are judged in April and May each year and the winners are announced in July. Parks must apply each year to keep their Green Flag Award, and winning sites are eligible to fly a Green Flag in the park for a year.
Green spaces which are managed by voluntary or community groups are eligible to apply for a Green Pennant Award and Green Flag Award winning sites over 30 years old may also apply for Green Heritage Site Accreditation.[1]
[edit] Award criteria
There are eight criteria which must be satisfied to win the Award.[2] These include:
- A welcoming place
- Healthy, safe and secure
- Sustainability
- Clean and well maintained
- Conservation and heritage
- Community involvement
- Marketing; Management
Source: Civic Trust Website
