Green Flag Award - Award

Key Criteria

The following is an outline of the Key Criteria against which every park or green space for which an application is made, will be judged. Where certain criteria are not met, an applicant may provide justifications that will be taken into account in the judging process. Similarly, where changes in management practice are in progress but not yet fully implemented, transitional phases will be acknowledged and viewed positively.

Parks or green spaces will inevitably offer a variety of facilities and be managed and developed in response to a wide range of opportunities and constraints. Judging criteria will be sufficiently flexible to allow for these as well as recognising and encouraging innovation.

In principle any facility or feature which the park or green space offers, should conform to the relevant key criteria, but the range of facilities offered and their appropriateness to the needs of the user community will also be taken into account.

1. A Welcoming Place
The overall impressions for any member of the community approaching and entering the park or green space should be positive and inviting, regardless of the purpose for which they are visiting. Features of particular importance are:

Good and safe access
Good signage to and in the park or green space
Equal access for all members of the community

2. Healthy, Safe, and Secure
The park or green space must be a healthy, safe and secure place for all members of the community to use. Relevant issues must be addressed in management plans and implemented on the ground. New issues that arise must be addressed promptly and appropriately. Particularly important issues are:

Equipment and facilities must be safe to use.
The park or green space must be a secure place for all members of the community to use or traverse.
Dog fouling must be adequately addressed.
Health & Safety policies should be in place, in practice and regularly reviewed.
Toilets, drinking water, first aid, public telephones and emergency equipment where relevant (e.g. life belts by water) should be available in or near the park or green space, and clearly sign posted.

3. Clean and Well Maintained
For aesthetic as well as Health and Safety reasons, issues of cleanliness and maintenance must be adequately addressed, in particular:

Litter and other waste management issues must be adequately addressed.
Grounds, buildings, equipment and other features must be well maintained.
A policy on litter, vandalism and maintenance should be in place, in practice and regularly reviewed.

4. Sustainability
Methods used in maintaining the park or green space and its facilities should be environmentally sound, relying on best practices available according to current knowledge. Management should be aware of the range of techniques available to them, and demonstrate that informed choices have been made and are regularly reviewed. Specifically:

An environmental policy or charter and management strategy should be in place, in practice and regularly reviewed.
Pesticide use should be minimised and justified.
Horticultural peat use should be eliminated.
Waste plant material in the park or green space should be recycled.
High horticultural and arboricultural standards should be demonstrated.
Energy conservation, pollution reduction, waste recycling, and resource conservation measures should be used.

5. Conservation and Heritage
Particular attention should be paid to the conservation and appropriate management of:

Natural features, wildlife and fauna.
Landscape features.
Buildings and structural features.
These features should serve their function well without placing undue pressure on the surrounding environment.

6. Community Involvement
Management should actively pursue the involvement of members of the community who represent as many park or green space user groups as possible. Management should be able to demonstrate:

Knowledge of user community and levels and patterns of use.
Evidence of community involvement in management and/or developments and results achieved.
Appropriate levels of provision of recreational facilities for all sectors of the community.

7. Marketing

Marketing strategy in place, in practice and regularly reviewed.
Good provision of information to users, e.g. about management strategies, activities, features, ways to get involved.
Promotion of the park or green space as a community resource.

8. Management
A Green Flag Award application must have a management plan or strategy in place which reflects the aspirations of Local Agenda 21 and clearly and adequately addresses all the above criteria and any other relevant aspects of the park or green space’s management. The plan must be actively implemented and regularly reviewed. Financially sound management of the park or green space must also be demonstrated.

Key Criteria

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