Council Announces Two Award Winning Green Spaces

July 28, 2016

This year, the Environmental Charity Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award to a record 51 green spaces across Northern Ireland.

The Green Flag Award, supported by Heyn Environmental Solutions, is a prestigious award, setting an international benchmark standard for the management of parks and green spaces. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

At Castle Gardens and Wallace Park, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is proud to fly the Green Flag in recognition of the outstanding quality of their green space and the hard work and dedication required to achieve such an outstanding award.

Speaking about the two Awards, the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Brian Bloomfield MBE, said: “I am extremely pleased that Castle Gardens and Wallace Park have been awarded with the Green Flag status. The Council’s parks and open spaces play an important part within the community, offering events and activities throughout the year, and general relaxation for residents and visitors to enjoy. Well done to everyone involved.”

Also speaking about the Council’s success, the Chairman of the Leisure and Community Development Committee, Councillor Tim Morrow said, “I am delighted that Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has received national recognition for two of the Council’s most popular green spaces. Wallace Park has retained the Award for the second year running, with Castle Gardens receiving the Green Flag Award for the ninth year, having first received the Award in 2008/09. This is an absolutely tremendous achievement and I would like to thank the staff and volunteers involved in the keeping both facilities in immaculate condition.”

Dr. Ian Humphreys, Chief Executive Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme. All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the hundreds of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

If you are interested in finding out further information about the Green Flag Award or other programmes run by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful please e-mail us on enquiries@keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org call us on 028 9073 6920 or check out our website www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org.

The Green Flag Awards are proving to be such a success that they're having to form an orderly queue – R-L - Michelle McIlveen MLA, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs; Sue Christie, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Vice Chair; Ald Deborah Girvan, Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council; Cllr Gillian Fitzpatrick, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council; Cllr Brian Bloomfield MBE, Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council; Cllr Sharon McLee, Deputy Chairperson, Mid Ulster District Council; John MacFarlane, Parks Quality Manager, Belfast City Council; Ald John Carson, Chair of the Operations Committee, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council; Cllr Paul Greenfield, Deputy Lord Mayor, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council; Ken McFall, Cemeteries Supervisor, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council; Paul Edge, Ballyeaston Village Committee and Kim Moore, Digital Marketing Executive, Heyn Environmental Solutions.