Environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful, has announced that Viewfield Park Orchard in Nairn has 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 wellbeing.
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 wellbeing and provide safe areas for play – something that has been particularly important to everyone over the last couple of years.
Amongst the 2022 award winners are spaces managed by local authorities, community groups and various other organisations.
Catherine Gee, Deputy Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, commented: “I would like to congratulate all of Scotland’s award-winning parks. Receiving this prestigious international benchmark recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.
“As the only accreditation for park management of its kind in Scotland, we have supported local authority teams, land managers and communities across Scotland to drive up environmental standards at many of our parks and open spaces for residents and visitors alike.
“Parks attract a diverse range of visitors, all of whom look for different facilities and have different expectations. The Green Flag Award, and the collective expertise of managers and communities across Scotland, drives improvements through a framework which supports the management of our environment, our wildlife and the people who visit.
“Scotland’s parks and open spaces attract thousands of visitors every year and I’d encourage everyone to #RespectProtectEnjoy them this summer.”
Neil Mapes, Chief Operations Officer at Green Hive comments
"Green Hive is honoured that the Viewfield Community Orchard has received the Green Flag award - our volunteers love maintaining the orchard space and Green Hive has been the orchard's caretakers on behalf of the Nairn community since its establishment in 2017. We have carefully crafted a space for humans and nature with accessibility and biodiversity in mind. The fruit trees were selected for their heritage and locality and the fruit bushes add an extra tasty note to the community orchard's offerings! We can't wait to fly the flag with pride and encourage more people than ever to enjoy the Viewfield Community Orchard."
A detailed map of Scotland’s Green Flag sites can be found at: www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/parks