Top Parkland Award Is 'Grave Honour'

Roselawn Cemetery may seem an unlikely candidate for a prestigious park award but it is making history as the first cemetery in the North to win a prestigious Green Flag award.

Judges were impressed by its use as a recreation area by the local community. This, together with its environmental excellence and attractiveness merited its top marks in the UK wide competition.

With three lakes on site Roselawn provides an attractive open space in a built up area.

It even attracts visitors to see more than the graves and enjoy its green space and quiet arbours.

Belfast Mayor, Niall Ó Donnghaile, attending a celebratory event at Roselawn said the Council was thrilled that all seven parks and open spaces entered for the award had achieved success in the prestigious competition.

Besides Roselawn Cemetery the other parks to achieve Green Flag status are Ormeau; Falls and Musgrave Parks; Barnetts Demesne; Botanic Gardens and Cavehill Country Park.

"It is a fantastic achievement by our parks staff and highlights the outstanding quality of the parks and open spaces in our city.

"They are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike and this award clearly recognises their value to Belfast. I congratulate all the parks and the staff who have worked so hard to achieve this quality standard.

"A cemetery isn't the first place you think to come to enjoy an open space but Roselawn with its lakes and quiet spaces is obviously appreciated by its local community," he continued.

"Parks are meant to be community spaces. That is what this award recognises; how the council is working with communities in local neighbourhoods.

"It is great to see the awards announced too as we begin 'Love Parks Week' which encourages people to get out and make the most of their local green spaces," added the councillor, noting that the Green Flag awards scheme began in 1996, originally in England and Wales only.

The award takes more than just management and aesthetics into consideration. Judges also consider conservation and heritage, environmental sustainability, safety, community involvement and marketing.

Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status.

The environmental charities, Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace oversee the awards.

(BMcC/GK)