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Craig Savage, Gardener for the Office for Public Works, poses with the Green Heritage Site accreditation for the Irish National War Memorial Gardens in Dublin, Source: greenflagawards.org
Kilbarry Nature Park, operated by Waterford Council, has won the special Pollinator Plan Award
Ireland’s best public green spaces received a record- breaking 103 Green Flag Awards at the 25th anniversary edition of the international competition. Once again, Irish Parks and Gardens secured more Green Flag Awards than any participating country except the UK where the scheme originated in 1996.
The winners were announced on 17 November. Ireland’s tally comprised 84 Green Flag Awards for parks and gardens managed by organisations and local authorities, and a further 19 Green Flag Community Awards for sites managed and maintained by community groups or volunteers.
Three of the 2021 Green Flag Award winning parks were also shortlisted by Ireland's National Biodiversity Data Centre for an additional Pollinator Plan Award, created in support of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan. Kilbarry Nature Park, operated by Waterford Council, emerged as the overall winner this year. Located on the site of a rehabilitated landfill, this nature park illustrates how an environmental problem can become an environmental asset.
2021 saw the successful rollout of the Green Heritage Site accreditation programme across Ireland. 7 Irish Green Flag Award sites received the additional accreditation which distinguishes public green spaces of historical and cultural significance upholding high standards of conservation and treatment.
Ireland’s triumph was celebrated with an event at Malahide Castle, located within Malahide Demesne. Speaking at the ceremony, Ireland's Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien, extended his thanks to all the park staff and community volunteers for their hard work in maintaining the country’s parks and gardens.
The Green Flag Award is managed internationally by Keep Britain Tidy and a network of partners who deliver the programme on a national level. This year participating countries included Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
In Ireland, the programme is managed by An Taisce - The National Trust for Ireland through their Environmental Education Department and with support from the Irish government’s Department of Rural and Community Development. 32 local authorities and park operators are now engaged in the programme in Ireland. All parties involved have contributed to the country’s Green Flag Awards shooting up from zero to 100 in just six years.
You can find the full list of winners using the global map on the Green Flag Award website.
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