Image via Live Here Love Here

The success of our green spaces was celebrated at the annual Green Flag Awards at Mossley Mill. Site managers from across Northern Ireland were recognised on Wednesday for the pivotal work they do in maintaining public spaces critical to our local communities. Community groups were also celebrated for their dedication in maintaining and enhancing their local green spaces.

A record-breaking 122 sites were awarded this year. This included 86 Green Flag Awards and 36 Community Green Flags. 7 Heritage Awards were given to sites that also  demonstrated excellence in the care of their heritage elements. Two sites also received Green Flag NI Pollinator Awards.

The Green Flag Award programme in Northern Ireland is sponsored by Power NI, part of Energia Group, and supported by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, said:

“I am proud to support the Green Flags programme, and it is truly encouraging to see so many people who care deeply about their communities and green spaces.

“Our green spaces benefit the whole community, and it is important that everyone feels welcome, safe and encouraged to avail of the wonderful facilities in our parks which provide us with healthy spaces to live and relax. The prestigious green flag celebrates a standard of excellence, and I look forward to seeing the green flags flying high from our parks and green spaces.”

This year, the awards focus on ensuring our parks are safe spaces for women and girls. The awards aim to promote the message that our green spaces should be open to everyone in our society and that we should do everything we can to ensure that women and girls feel safe in all parts of Northern Ireland. These awards can serve as a timely reminder to ensure that all parks and green spaces remain safe and secure.

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