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• Green Flag Award scheme highlighted in parks report

• Date:

  8th May 2002

• Contact:

  Sarah Egerton

• Organisation:

  The Civic Trust

The Green Flag Award Scheme, the national standard for quality parks and green spaces, welcomes the Report published yesterday by the Urban Green Spaces Taskforce - the body set up to advise the Government on improving the quality of our urban parks, play areas and green spaces. Details were announced at a press conference yesterday by the Minister with responsibility for parks and green spaces, Sally Keeble.

The Report specifically highlighted the Green Flag Award Scheme saying: ‘There is a great deal of support for the Green Flag Award scheme in promoting quality standards. The scheme is the most advanced national model for assessing the qualities that attract people to parks and green spaces… More and more urban parks are being awarded a ‘Green Flag’ as an indicator of excellence: 81 parks in 2002 compared to seven in 1998.’

Mark Davis chairman of the Green Flag Steering Group said: “We wholeheartedly support the recommendations that the Task Force has made and are delighted that it has recognised the valuable contribution the Green Flag Award Scheme makes to helping raise the standards of our urban parks and green spaces.  The Green Flag Steering Group very much looks forward to the Government’s response to the Report and would relish the opportunity of furthering the scheme to take on board the recommendations.”

In announcing details of the Report, the Minister also took the opportunity to launch a new award from the Green Flag Steering Group to celebrate high quality voluntary and community-led green spaces – the Green Pennant Award. Details are available from http://www.civictrust.org.uk or from the Civic Trust Northern Office on 0151 709 1969; email

NOTES FOR EDITORS The Green Flag Award Scheme is a joint project of: the Pesticides Action Network – UK; the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management; the Children's Play Council; the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management; English Nature; KMC Consultancy; Liz Greenhalgh (independent consultant); Ian Baggott (independent consultant); Mike Rowan; John Newton (independent consultant); Patrick Kilburn (green flag award judge) and the Civic Trust. The above organisations/people form the Green Flag steering group. The Civic Trust manages the scheme on behalf of the steering group. The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) is a supporter of the Green Flag Award scheme, providing funds through its Special Grants Programme The Pesticide Action Network UK is a charity concerned with the health and environmental effects of pesticides and works to promote sustainable alternatives. PAN-UK initiated the Green Flag Award Scheme as an incentive for sustainable management and the improvement of open public spaces. English Nature is the statutory body that champions the conservation and enhancement of the wildlife and natural features in England. We do this by establishing Natural Nature Reserves, notifying and safeguarding sites of Special Scientific Interest, advocating to government departments and others effective policies for nature conservation, disseminating guidance and advice, and promoting research relevant to nature conservation. We promote the provision of natural habitats within parks and other public open spaces as a means of delivering Biodiversity Action Plan objectives, and ensuring people benefit from a close contact with nature. The Civic Trust is a national charity that leads the campaign to improve local environments. One of the Trust’s core activities is to promote excellence by setting high standards of design, sustainability and community involvement and recognising the very best through a range of awards. The Green Flag Steering Group would like to thank the organisations that sponsor the Green Pennant Award scheme: the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions; Shanks First through the landfill tax credit scheme; The Countryside Agency, the Countryside Council for Wales and English Nature. The Urban Green Spaces Taskforce was set up in January 2001 to advise the Government on improving the quality of our urban parks, play areas and green spaces. Further details and the full Taskforce report can be found on the DTLR website at http://www.dtlr.gov.uk; DTLR press enquiries: 0207 944 3049.