Capital’s parks flying the flag for ‘green’ credentials

EDINBURGH’S public parks make up almost half of Scotland’s parks to be recognised for their ‘green’ credentials.

Thirty-five local authority-run parks in the capital have been awarded ‘Green Flag’ status, from a total of 74 across Scotland.

UK-wide, some 2,216 parks have received the accreditation.

Of the 74 ‘Green Flag’ award winners in Scotland, two parks have received additional acknowledgement for ‘heritage’ activity: Duthie Park (Aberdeen City Council) and Belleisle Park (South Ayrshire Council).

And for Edinburgh, there’s a Community Award to the Friends of Corstorphine Hill group, for Corstorphine Hill LNR Community Walled Garden. Plus there are ‘Green Flags’ for Royal Edinburgh Hospital (NHS Lothian) and The Lawn & Central Woodlands (Heriot-Watt University).

So, for Edinburgh across all sectors: 38 in total.

Say the organisers of the awards, here: “A record number of parks and green spaces across the UK have reached the high standards required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award in 2023.

“The scheme is celebrating as 2,216 parks – the largest number since the scheme began 27 years ago – are proudly preparing to raise their flags.”

The full list of award winners can be read, here. Or here, in detail, on the website of Keep Scotland Beautiful.

The announcement adds: “The Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, has seen successful submissions from local authorities and other land managers across the country for a range of sites, from world-famous city parks to small, local green spaces.”

Edinburgh’s 35 ‘Green Flag’ parks are joined by Aberdeen City Council (eight), Dundee City (seven) and Glasgow City (one).

Pictured: Spring flowers in Inverleith Park, one of Edinburgh’s Green Flag sites, Picture credit: Place Design Scotland

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