EDINBURGH LEADS THE WAY IN SCOTLAND
Eighty green spaces across Scotland have been presented with a Green Flag Award – and 36 of them are in Edinburgh.
Recognising the very best of our country’s outdoor areas, the International Green Flag Award acts as a benchmark for clean, safe and well-maintained parks and green spaces.
The Green Flag Award supports the opportunities that our green spaces provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and provide safe spaces for play.
Winners of the 2024 awards include parks managed by local authorities, community groups, universities and other organisations.
Edinburgh leads the way this year with 36 winners while there are nine in Aberdeen, eight winners in Dundee and plenty more across the country.
This year’s winners list also includes an impressive number of historically consecutive winners including Barnhill Rock Garden, Harrison Park and Braidburn Valley Park (18 years) and Duthie Park (12 years).
Jamie Ormiston, Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Training and Accreditation Coordinator, said: “Congratulations to all of our winners across Scotland. Receiving this prestigious award recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.
“What is most pleasing is the number of consecutive winners we have once again, showcasing the parks’ longevity and desire to continually be a welcoming and environmentally friendly place for all.
“Scotland is facing a biodiversity crisis, but these green spaces provide a space for everyone to reconnect with nature and I encourage everyone to do just that this summer.
“Green spaces are so important for our physical and mental wellbeing and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of parks and green spaces across the entire length of the country.”
A total of 80 green spaces in Scotland have won a Green Flag Award for 2024. Across the UK there were 2,228 winners, a record number and up 11 from 2023’s total of 2,216.