Keep Scotland Beautiful has presented 87 of Scotland’s parks and open spaces with a Green Flag Award recognising the very best of our country’s outdoor areas.
The International Green Flag Award is a benchmark for clean, safe and well-maintained parks and greenspaces. The award supports the opportunities they provide to enable exercise, improve mental well-being and offer safe spaces to play.
Green Hive is so proud to announce that the Viewfield Community Orchard is counted amongst the 87 parks and open spaces as a Green Flag Award winner in 2023!
The Viewfield Community Orchard wouldn't be where it is today without the amazing work of volunteers from every part of Nairn. Since the orchard was planted in 2017, volunteers have nurtured and cared for all of the fruit trees and bushes as well as kept the orchard tidy, clean and safe for everyone in Nairn to enjoy.
We love to see the Community Orchard in use, with people enjoying the picnic benches and the peaceful setting in the middle of town, and this award is a wonderful recognition of the positive contribution that the orchard brings to Nairn, both for people and the environment.
87 Scottish parks achieve environmental excellence
Keep Scotland Beautiful awards 87 parks with Green Flags to celebrate sustainable green spaces across Scotland
Environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, has announced that 87 Scottish parks have been presented with a Green Flag Award. The accolade acknowledges quality green open spaces across the country that help to boost our nation's health and well-being.
The international Green Flag Award is administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful and acts as a benchmark for recreational outdoor space. The award celebrates well-maintained parks and greenspaces and supports the opportunities that they provide to enable exercise, improve mental well-being and provide safe areas for play – something that has been particularly important to everyone over the last 18 months. More than 2,000 parks across the world have achieved the award this year.
Amongst the 2023 award winners are spaces managed by local authorities, community groups and various other organisations including the NHS.
You can see the full list of full list of Scotland’s 2023 award winners here
A detailed map of Scotland’s Green Flag sites can be found at:
Jamie Ormiston, Senior Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “Congratulations to all of our fantastic award-winning green spaces across Scotland. Every park has a wide range of people visiting them and their requirements can vary. What is essential is that they are well maintained and provide a safe place for people to relax and have fun.
“Our award-winning parks have demonstrated they are worthy winners, meeting the criteria of the coveted international award. Receiving this prestigious benchmark recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.
“It is imperative that Scotland reconnects with the natural world if we are to fix the biodiversity crisis and these green spaces provide a space for people of all ages to do that.
“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. I encourage everyone to make the most of them this summer.”
Some more stats:
87 parks and open green spaces across Scotland will receive the Green Flag Award in 2023.
The Green Flag Award runs in 16 countries internationally, including New Zealand, Finland, and USA.
There were 2,216 UK award winners this year, a record number.
• The Green Flag Award recognises the provision of clean, safe outdoor space.
• In Scotland, the Green Flag Award scheme is run by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
• Keep Scotland Beautiful works in partnership with Keep Britain Tidy, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Keep Wales Tidy to provide a benchmark standard for parks and green spaces in the UK and beyond.
• Parks and open spaces make a tangible positive contribution to the nation’s well-being, with proven links between physical and mental health and easy access to safe, clean and inspiring green spaces.
• The Green Flag Award is presented annually after an application and on-site assessment process to ensure the park meets the eight pillars of the award. The park or open space should be:
A welcoming place; Healthy, safe and secure; Well maintained and clean; Sustainably managed; Managed for biodiversity, landscape and heritage; Involve the community; Marketed effectively; and Managed well.
Make the most of our parks and respect them – making sure to tidy up your litter for the next visitors to enjoy the space.