Edinburgh’s finest parks and gardens have been awarded with more than half of this year’s coveted Green Flag awards.
24 out of 44 flags were presented to parks and other greenery around the capital that showed excellence in their environmental standards.
Four parks in the city were recognised for the first time by the award scheme; Ravelston Park and Woods, Lochend Park, Prestonfield Park and Ferry Glen & Back Braes.
The scheme awards only the best green spaces throughout the UK after being judged by eight key points of criteria including sustainability, safety and cleanliness of the environment.
Jim Hunter, neighborhood manager at Lochend Park, said: “This award really demonstrates the improvements we have made to the park.
“The new facilities that are in place attract both young and older people to the park. We are so
“Our new boardwalk is great as people can sit and watch the wildlife in the pond or children can play in the new play park.”
Flag raising ceremonies will take place in the four newly awarded parks next week as part of the Love Parks Week, an organization dedicated to encouraging people to visit and enjoy their local parks and greenery.
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Environment Leader, said: “We’re delighted that, once again, Edinburgh is leading the way in providing high quality parks and gardens for our residents.
“The awards positively reflect on the hard work carried out by local communities and staff to ensure Edinburgh’s renowned parks are preserved.”
This is the first year since the awards were launched in 1996 that Edinburgh has gained such a high level of success. An additional four flags have been received on top of the twenty retained from last year.
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said: “We are thrilled to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces. A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the achievements of all those whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.”
The Edinburgh Green flag winners were; Prestonfield Park (New award), Ravelston Woods Local Nature Reserve and Park (New award), Ferry Glen and Back Braes (New award, Lochend Park (New award), Braidburn Valley Park, Pentland Hills Regional Park, Harrison Park, Easter Craiglockhart Hill LNR, Hopetoun Crescent Garden, Burdiehouse, Burn Valley Park, Inverleith Park, Figgate Park, Station Road Park, London Road Gardens, Corstorphine Hill, Craigmillar Castle Park, Portobello Community Garden, Morningside Park, Muir Wood Park, Hailes Quarry Park, Victoria Park, Hermitage and Blackford Hill Local Nature Reserve, St Margaret’s Park, Princes Street Gardens.
