17/07/2019
Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.
Four South Dublin County Council parks have been awarded a prestigious Green Flag Award from An Taisce Environment Education Unit at a ceremony in Maynooth University today, 17 July 2019. Tymon Park was also named as a Category Winner for Town Park.
Corkagh Park, Waterstown Park, Sean Walsh Park were all awarded Green Flags Awards whilst Tymon Park received a Green Flag Award and was also awarded the Overall Category for Town Park.
The Green Flag Award for Parks Scheme is an international standard for well managed public parks and green spaces. Only awarded for exceeding tough environmental standards in green space management, and excellence of visitor attractions – the Green Flag Award for Parks is the mark of a quality park or green space and is recognised throughout the world.
The Green Flag Award is operated within the Republic of Ireland by An Taisce Environmental Education Unit. This year a record 60 Irish Parks and Gardens from across the Republic of Ireland are receiving 2019 Green Flags.
The Green Flag Awards are judged every year by a peer jury of green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, and community involvement. In Ireland, the Green Flag Award for Parks Scheme has been enthusiastically received by park management as it delivers major wins for the delivery of quality green spaces by respective parks and park departments. These include:
The promotion and reward for best practice management
Creation of a plan for improvements and future works
The building of a collaborative network of park management nationally
The implementation of environmental sustainability within park management
“In terms of urban renewal, and rural and community development, the Green Flag Award for Parks is a logical and sensible step towards supporting community engagement with green space improvement, and helps increase quality of life within our communities”,
said Robert Moss, the Green Flag Award for Parks Manager for the Republic of Ireland.
ENDS
Note to Editors
The Green Flag Award is an international benchmarking standard for parks and green spaces.
The Green Flag Award scheme is also operating across Australia, Belgium, England, Finland, Germany, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Wales.
The Green Flag Award scheme aims to encourage the provision of good quality public parks and green spaces that are managed in environmentally sustainable ways.
The Green Flag Award Scheme encourages high environmental performance and good management. Parks and green spaces are judged against eight key criteria. Where certain criteria are not met, applicants can provide justifications that may be taken into account. What's more, if management practice changes are in progress but not yet fully implemented, transitional phases will be acknowledged and viewed positively.
The judging criteria also considers the fact that each park/green space will offer different kinds of facilities, and will be managed and developed to varying opportunities and constraints. Innovation and the way facilities offered are tailored to the needs of the community will also be taken into account.
If you are interested in finding out further information about the Green Flag Award or other programmes run by An Taisce Environmental Education please e-mail us at rmoss@eeu.antaisce.org or telephone: 01 4002212 or 086 3579663.
Category Winners:
Town Park - Tymon Park, South Dublin County Council
Country Park/Demesne - Malahide Castle Demesne, Fingal County Council
Walled Garden – The Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden, Ashtown Demesne, Phoenix Park, OPW.
Community Award - Headford Community Garden, County Galway.
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Tymon Park -
Tymon Park Playground