My local park (more of an open space) has benefited from a lot of hard work from local groups and the council and has justly been awarded a green flag. But the flag is my problem; it isn’t just one but three all on tall white flagstaffs more at home outside the commodore’s cabin of a yacht club. Add to this the obligatory multiple noticeboards and we have an unwelcome degree of urbanisation that has drawn some local comment. One flag on a green pole with one noticeboard would be understandable but is all this paraphernalia enough to cause the award to be withdrawn?

Dear David, thank you for the comments you have submitted about your local park. They have been forwarded to our judges who will take them into consideration when making their assessment.

DavidBower - 23 May 2008 04:00 PM

My local park (more of an open space) has benefited from a lot of hard work from local groups and the council and has justly been awarded a green flag. But the flag is my problem; it isn’t just one but three all on tall white flagstaffs more at home outside the commodore’s cabin of a yacht club. Add to this the obligatory multiple noticeboards and we have an unwelcome degree of urbanisation that has drawn some local comment. One flag on a green pole with one noticeboard would be understandable but is all this paraphernalia enough to cause the award to be withdrawn?

Can you enlighten us further as to the nature of the 3 flags i.e. are they all the same or do they represent other awards/organisations or are they merely previous years awards that are still being displayed?
Thanks.

I have judged one park this year were the Trustees would not permit a flagpole being erected.  They did however incorporate the G/F emblem into the noticeboards, which I found quite acceptable.

David Brown - 26 June 2008 11:15 AM

I have judged one park this year were the Trustees would not permit a flagpole being erected.  They did however incorporate the G/F emblem into the noticeboards, which I found quite acceptable.

When you say ‘emblem’ I am assuming this is not the actual flag that was placed in the noticeboard. If that is correct it would be interesting to know what the Civic Trust actually feels about this.

Simon Carey - 27 June 2008 05:24 AM

David Brown - 26 June 2008 11:15 AM

I have judged one park this year were the Trustees would not permit a flagpole being erected.  They did however incorporate the G/F emblem into the noticeboards, which I found quite acceptable.

When you say ‘emblem’ I am assuming this is not the actual flag that was placed in the noticeboard. If that is correct it would be interesting to know what the Civic Trust actually feels about this.

It would have to be a fairly large noticeboard to have a full size flag in it.  It was two smaller facsimilies of the flag incorporated the lower corners of the notice board which under the circumstances I judge to be adequate.  I have always believed you must be flexible as a judge and make judgements on the particular circumstances in the park you are judging.  If you have a problem with this then you must take it up the Civic Trust.

Winning sites are required to fly the flag for the 12 months from when it is presented and display a publicity notice explaining what the Green Flag Award is. We accept that on some site it is not possible to gain planning permission for a flagpole, e.g. some Nature Reserves. In these instances we suggest the following: diplaying the flag on a wall in a building. displaying the flag in a notice board, displaying the certificate and publicity notice in a prominent position, using the Green Flag Award logo on signage.
If sites have specific issues they should call me at the Civic Trust to discuss a solution. 0151 231 6904, .

Thank you for clarifying that, Paul.

Paul Todd - 27 June 2008 07:21 AM

Winning sites are required to fly the flag for the 12 months from when it is presented and display a publicity notice explaining what the Green Flag Award is. We accept that on some site it is not possible to gain planning permission for a flagpole, e.g. some Nature Reserves. In these instances we suggest the following: diplaying the flag on a wall in a building. displaying the flag in a notice board, displaying the certificate and publicity notice in a prominent position, using the Green Flag Award logo on signage.
If sites have specific issues they should call me at the Civic Trust to discuss a solution. 0151 231 6904, .

Hi Paul - you state that you ‘suggest’ alternatives to displaying a flag on a flag pole. This does not sound mandatory. Can you clarify the position here as to what is expected of an award winning green space and what are the penalties (if any) if they fail to comply?
Thanks.