Mayor thanks Parks & Open spaces staff for work on Green Flag sites

The Mayor has visited the award winning Green Flag parks and open spaces in the Borough to meet the staff who work on site. The Mayor thanked staff for their hard work which enables Council to reach this excellent standard by keeping the sites clean, safe and welcoming, protecting and promoting biodiversity and engaging the community in Parks and Open Spaces initiatives and events.

Three new sites were put forward for Green Flag consideration this year – Carnfunnock Country Park, Larne; Ecos Nature Park, Ballymena and Eden Allotment Gardens, Carrickfergus  and all three sites received the coveted Green Flag Award.

Council received four Green Flag Awards last year – for Bashfordsland Wood & Oakfield Glen, Carrickfergus; Diamond Jubilee Wood, Whitehead; Dixon Park, Larne and People’s Park, Ballymena (also pictured below) – and are very pleased to have been awarded the Green Flag Award for these four sites again this year thanks to Council's Parks and Open Spaces staff keeping up the high standards.

The Green Flag Award has been running for many years and has become the recognized benchmark national standard for high quality parks and green spaces. Green Flag Award applications are judged against eight key criteria which are; A welcoming place, Healthy, safe and secure, Clean and well maintained, Sustainability, Conservation and heritage, Community involvement, Marketing and Management.

Mayor meets staff at Eden Allotment Gardens, Carrickfergus

Mayor meets staff at People's Park, Ballymena