BlackrockParkto flyGreenFlag
THE Green Flag Award is the benchmark international standard for publicly accessible parks and green spaces. The scheme originated in England and Wales and it encourages communities to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.
In Ireland the scheme is run by An Taisce, the National Trust of Ireland. A pilot scheme was started in 2015 (Dublin area) and a total of six parks were given awards in 2015.
This year, Blackrock Community Park will be proudly flying the Green Flag award, for the best parks and green spaces in the country. Blackrock Community Park was recently judged by the national panel of judges and achieved the award.
During 2016 a total of 22 public green spaces have met the high standard needed to receive the Green Flag award, this is the quality marks for parks and green spaces.
This year, for the first time ever, County Louth has achieved the Green Flag Award standard.
Council chairperson Paul Bell will officially raise the flag at the park on Thursday morning.
The Green Flag Awards schemes are judged by green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria; these include horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, health and safety presentation of place, conservation and heritage, and community involvement.
Park and green spaces are normally judged in April and June each year and the winners are announced in July. Parks must apply each year to keep their Green Flag Award, and winning sites are eligible to fly a Green Flag in the park for a year.
A spokesperson for Louth County Council said: ‘A flag flying this year is testament to the efforts of many volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag award.
‘ The often unseen hard work of many park staff over many years has provided Ireland with a wealth of treasured parks, gardens, and green spaces.
‘Parks and green spaces are vitally important to the health and the emotional well-being of our communities. The scheme recognises and rewards the very best green spaces and these amenities provide us with a place for relax and enjoy nature’.