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Green Flag Award History

The Green Flag Award Scheme was launched in England in 1996 and gave its first awards in 1997. The Scheme was directed by a Steering Group made up of individuals and representatives of larger organisations. The Steering Group was led by Mark Davis of the Pesticides Action Network UK, who worked closely with the following individuals to develop and drive the Scheme forward in these early years.


In later years, Nick Reeves succeeded Mark Davis as the Chair of the Green Flag Award Steering Group and the group also benefited from the involvement of:


In 2002 the Scheme expanded into Wales, with the backing of the Countryside Council for Wales.

In 2002 the Green Pennant Award Scheme was launched in England and Wales.

In 2003 the Green Heritage Site Accreditation was launched, with the support of English Heritage.

In 2003 the Green Flag Award Steering Group gifted the scheme to the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

In 2005, the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, now Communities and Local Government (CLG), awarded the contract to run the Green Flag Award Scheme to the Civic Trust and formed the Green Flag Advisory Board. Nick Reeves sits on the GFAB as a representative of one of the original founders of the Scheme.

In 2007 the scheme was piloted in Scotland in conjunction with Green Space Scotland.
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Parks for People - Green Flag Award Notification