Green Flag Award

The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the UK

Applications are NOW OPEN for Green Flag for Parks and Open Spaces! 

It was first launched in 1996 to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. The first awards were given in 1997 and, many years later, it continues to provide the high level of quality against which our parks and green spaces are measured. It is also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve high environmental standards, setting a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.

What's more, winning a Green Flag Award can generate excellent publicity for a site. Both the media and the public are becoming increasingly aware that a site flying a Green Flag is a high-quality green space, which can only boost its popularity.

The Green Flag Award is one of a number of accreditation schemes that recognises excellence in the management of our public space. Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful also manages the Beach and Marina Awards and Green Key Awards for the hospitality sector. These Award programme show a commitment from business owners and local authorities that the area you are visiting is managed to high standards, which have been independently verified.

The scheme is now running in 18 countries, including The Netherlands, Germany, South Korea and Australia. 2025/26 was another successful year for Green Flag Awards in Northern Ireland, with 118 parks and green spaces now flying the Green Flag!

Applying for a Green Flag Award

If you have applied before please sign in and complete your application here.

If you are applying for the first time please complete the registration here.

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 12th February 2025 at 5pm 

For more information on the Green Flag Award, please contact the LEQ team at leq@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org 

To download the full list of criteria used to judge Green Flag sites, click here.

If you are a community site, please visit our Green Flag Community Award page.

Green Flag Award winning sites in Northern Ireland

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council

1. Antrim Castle Gardens (Heritage)
2. Antrim/Belmont & Six Mile Cemetery
3. Antrim Loughshore and  Gateway
4. Ballynure Old Graveyard
5. Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Hazelbank Park and Gideons Green
6. Kilbride Cemetery
7. Lilian Bland Park
8. Mallusk Cemetery 
9. Mill Race Trail
10. Newtownabbey Way
11. Randalstown Riverside Walk
12. Rashee Cemetery
13. Sentry Hill Historic House & Visitor Centre 
14. Sixmile Water Park
15. Valley Park (V36 and Glas-na-braden Glen)
16. Wallace Park
17. Crumlin Glen
18. Threemile Water Park 
19. Whiteabbey Glen 
20. Monkstown Centre

Ards and North Down Borough Council

1. Ballymenoch Park
2. Castle Park
3. Cairn Wood
4. Clandeboye Cemetery 
5. Kiltonga Nature Reserve
6. Linear Park Bangor 
7. Londonderry Park

Belfast City Council

1. Barnett Demesne
2. Belfast Botanic Gardens (Heritage)
3. Belmont Park
4. Cavehill Country Park
5. Connswater Community Greenway
6. Drumglass Park 
7. Dunmurry Village
8. Dunville Park
9. Falls Park 
10. Fullerton Park
11. Grove Park
12. Half Moon Lake
13. Knocknagoney Park
14. Lagan Meadows 
15. Musgrave Park
16. Pairc Nua Chollan
17. Ormeau Park
18. Roselawn Cemetery
19. Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park
20. Tullycarnet Park
21. Waterworks Park
22. Woodvale Park
23. Springfield Dam

Department of Finance

1. Stormont Estate and Park (Heritage)

Derry City & Strabane District Council

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council

1. Bells Lane Allotments Incorporating Bells Lane Park & Lisburn BMX track
   
2. Billy Neil MBE Country Park 
3. Glenmore Parkland Trail 
4. Hydebank Playing Fields 
5. Moat Park
6. Moira Demense
7. Wallace Park
8. Sir Milne Barbour Memorial Park
9. Castle Gardens

Mid Ulster District Council

1. Dungannon Park
2. Davagh Forest Park 
3. Cottagequinn Cemetary 
4. Ballyronan Marina
5. Round Park 
6. Polepatrick Park
7. Maghera Walled Garden
8. Manor Park 
9. Hill of the O'Neill

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council

1. Kilbroney Park
2. Castlewellan Forest Park 
3. Delamont Country Park
4. Slieve Gullion Forest Park
5. Newry Canal
6. Warrenpoint Municipal Park (Heritage)

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

Queen's University Belfast

1. Queen's University Belfast (Heritage)

Green Flag Community Awards