Edinburgh’s parks have scooped a record number of Green Flag Awards for the best green spaces in Scotland. Of 44 flags awarded in Scotland this year, the capital scooped no less than 24 awards – more than half of all flags presented across the country!
Ravelston Park and Woods is one of four new city parks to receive Green Flag recognition for the first time this year, and they join twenty who retained their awards from last year.
Parks are judged against eight criteria, including community involvement and sustainability. The Green Flag Awards criteria:
- A welcoming place
- Healthy, safe and secure
- Clean and well maintained
- Sustainability
- Conservation and heritage
- Community involvement
- Marketing
- Management
Welcoming the announcement, city environment leader Councillor Lesley Hinds said: “We’re delighted that, once again, Edinburgh is leading the way is providing high quality parks and gardens for our residents. The awards positively reflect on the hard work carried out by local communities and staff to ensure Edinburgh’s renowned parks are preserved.”
Flag raising ceremonies will take place in the four newly awarded parks next week.
The Green Flag Awards were established by Keep Britain Tidy in 1996. Paul Todd, Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: “An award provides national recognition for the achievements of all those whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy”.
Edinburgh’s green roll of honour
The parks and green spaces in Edinburgh to be given a Green Flag Award this year are:
- Prestonfield Park (New award)
- Ravelston Woods Local Nature Reserve and Park (New award)
- Ferry Glen and Back Braes (New award)
- Lochend Park (New award)
- Braidburn Valley Park
- Pentland Hills Regional Park
- Harrison Park
- Easter Craiglockhart Hill LNR
- Hopetoun Crescent Garden
- Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park
- Inverleith Park
- Figgate Park
- Station Road Park
- London Road Gardens
- Corstorphine Hill
- Craigmillar Castle Park
- Portobello Community Garden
- Morningside Park
- Muir Wood Park
- Hailes Quarry Park
- Victoria Park
- Hermitage and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve
- St Margaret’s Park
- Princes Street Gardens
For more information on the Green Flag Award scheme, visit ww.keepbritaintidy.org/GreenFlag.