Pentland Regional Park hoisted a Green Flag in a ceremony at Flotterstone Visitor Centre on Friday for the second consecutive year. The Green Flag Awards Scheme, which has run in Scotland since 1997, recognises urban green spaces using several criteria including how welcoming it is, maintenance and cleanliness, sustainability, conservation and heritage, community involvement and management.
In Scotland, only ten Green Flags have been awarded so far in the relatively new scheme, with half of those in Edinburgh.
The Pentland Regional Park is joined by Harrison Park, Braidburn Valley Park, Hopetoun Crescent Garden and Easter Craiglockhart Hill in the award of a green flag.
The Friends of Corstorphine Hill were also awarded Scotland's first Green Pennant, which recognises the work of voluntary and community groups. The Green Pennant is still at the pilot stage in Scotland.
"I am delighted Edinburgh has been so successful in the Green Flags Award Scheme this year, and justifiably so as we have a wealth of fantastic green spaces," said councillor Robert Aldridge, Environment Leader at the City of Edinburgh Council. Aldridge praised the hard work of the council's parks team, and the support of voluntary "friends" groups and local communities.
Green Flag Awards Scheme Launches New Web Site
The Green Flag Award Scheme today launched a new web site that allows users to search for Green Flag parks in their area by postcode, vote for a park, and join a Friends group for a park.
A record number of awards have been made for 2009/2010, with 1013 parks and green spaces currently holding a Green Flag or Green Pennant.
The Green Flag Award Scheme is Communities and Local Government (CLG) and Keep Britain Tidy runs Green Flag Award in partnership with GreenSpace and BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) sponsored by the UK government and run by a steering group of representatives from organisations such as Pesticides Action Network UK and English Nature.
It made its first awards in England in 1996 and was piloted in Scotland in 1997 with Greenspace Scotland.
Applying for a Green Flag Award
Applications for a Green Flag Award are made by the organisation that manages the "freely accessible park or green space" from town parks to cemetries.
The application process is now open for 2010/11 Green Flag Awards.