Three parks in Waterford have been awarded Green Flags by An Taisce for 2021.
Kilbarry Nature Park and Waterford Greenway, both operated by Waterford City and County Council and Waterford Institute of Technology Sports Campus were among the national recipients.
Not alone has Waterford been successful in retaining its two Green Flags for the Waterford Greenway and Kilbarry Nature Park but Kilbarry Nature Park was the overall winner in the Pollinator Projector Award. This award is specifically for those Green Flag Parks or Gardens that have made an effort to support their local pollinating insects, or to promote their importance.
Fergus Galvin, Director of Services Waterford City and County Council, highlighted the excellent work done by the presentation staff in securing this award,
Each member of the presentation team takes pride in the maintenance and appearance of our parks and open spaces, and this award is testament to the great effort shown by them.
About the Green Flag awards
The Green Flag awards are available to public town parks, country parks, gardens, cemeteries, nature parks and green spaces from across the whole country. The 2021 winners were announced on Tuesday by An Taisce Environmental Education, acknowledging Ireland’s best public Parks and Gardens. At Malahide Castle the Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities.
International accreditation for public park excellence in Ireland has increased again this year, to reach over 100 accredited public green spaces. In total, Ireland was awarded103 Green Flag sites, comprising 84 formal public Green Flag Park sites, along with 19 volunteer run Green Community Sites.In addition, a Green Heritage Site Accreditation across Ireland was launched. Seven Irish Green Flag sites have now also been accredited to Green Heritage Accreditation standard, which is awarded to public green spaces of historical and cultural significance.The number Green Flag Awards for the best parks and gardens to visit in Ireland have surged again this year, with 32 local authorities and park operators now partnering with An Taisce in delivering the international scheme.
Ireland gaining more Green Flags year on year
New green flag parks and gardens, accredited by teams of trained volunteer judges, include for the first-time sites from Counties Carlow, Meath, and Galway, as well as from Cork City. Globally over 2,300 public sites in 16 countries around the World have achieved Green Flag or Green Flag Community Award status. Once again more Green Flag Awards have been secured by Irish Parks and Gardens than by any country, other than the UK where the scheme originated in 1996.
This year participating countries include; 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.
