Belfast Parks Pick Up Green Flags

Twelve of Belfast's parks have picked up Green Flag Awards as part of a UK-wide scheme to recognise excellent parks and open spaces.

Lagan Meadows and Grove Playing Fields picked up an award each for the first time, while ten parks that won last year successfully achieved the same standard in this year's competition.

The ten are Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon, Waterworks, Belmont, Musgrave, Falls, Ormeau, Botanic Gardens, Cavehill Country Park, Barnett Demesne and Roselawn Cemetery.

Lord Mayor Councillor Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said: "We are always stressing to locals and visitors alike how attractive our parks can be and these awards have been won on a range of factors including, community involvement, attractiveness and planting.

"Parks are meant to be community spaces. We are extending that remit too providing allotments and community gardens in parks where people can grow fruit and vegetables, eating and exercising in a healthy way."

Chairman of Belfast City Council's Parks and Leisure Committee, Councillor Gareth McKee said: "A key element of Green Flag lies in working with communities in local neighbourhoods. Without help from the local community and park users we could not have achieved this success.

"We will continue to build on this work, working with communities to provide green spaces that everyone can take pride in. We are investing heavily in parks as part of our £150m Investment Programme, providing new playgrounds and pitches, updating facilities like pavilions, introducing community gardens and allotments."

The Green Flag awards scheme began in 1996, originally in England and Wales only. The scheme considers management and aesthetics, conservation and heritage, environmental sustainability, safety, community involvement and marketing in its awarding decisions.

(IT/CD)