Key Fingal parks hold on to renowned Green Flag status
Fingal County Council is delighted to retain six Green Flags in this year’s Green Flag Awards announced last week, by An Taisce.
The Green Flag Awards acknowledge Ireland’s best public parks and gardens and are only awarded for exceeding tough environmental standards in green space management, and excellence of visitor attractions. The Green Flag Award Scheme is the mark of a quality park or green space and is recognised throughout the world.
Once again, six Fingal County Council parks and gardens made the honours list and will get to fly the much coveted Green Flag across the year:
- Millennium Park, Blanchardstown
- Santry Demesne, Santry
- Newbridge House and Farm, Donabate
- St. Catherine’s Park, Lucan
- Malahide Demesne, Malahide
- Ardgillan Demesne, Balbriggan
In addition, Santry Community Garden, The Rock Garden in Swords has received its third Community Award, in a row. This award give recognition to the efforts made by local community groups to improve a community green space.
Malahide Demesne was also awarded with Green Heritage Site Accreditation. This reward gives recognition to public green spaces of historical importance that actively understand, manage, and promote their heritage. Only 12 Irish green flag sites have previously attained this. Alongside this, Malahide Demesne and Talbot Botanical was named as the overall winner of the Pollinator Plan Award.
Praising the achievements, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Howard Mahony said: “We are extremely proud to once again receive six Green Flags for our beautiful parks. It is a testament to the efforts of all our parks staff, volunteer groups and the communities involved who have put in the hard work and dedication to reach such high international standards.
Fingal County Council Foreman Gardener Pascal Murphy said: “Malahide Demesne is 100 hectare (265 acre) Regional Park containing a number of historical sites and treasures including a medieval castle dating back to the 12th century, the ruins of Malahide Abbey and graveyard, and also a visitors’ centre, the Talbot Botanic Gardens, shops and food hall, a large regional playground, exercise trails and sports courses and pitches and more.”
“We are extremely proud to receive a Green Heritage Site Accreditation award for our beautiful Malahide Demesne. It has been in the heart of our village for many centuries and a place which residents and visitors to enjoy. This Award is a recognition of all the hard work and dedication the staff has put in over the years.”
The Minister of State for Community Development and Charities; Joe O’Brien stated that: “I want to thank all community volunteers, across the country for all the work they have done by maintaining the many parks, gardens, and greens across the country. It is a great credit that they have helped deliver this this Green Flag accreditation across Ireland.”
To learn more about open spaces in Fingal go to: https://www.fingal.ie/trips/find-heritage-property-park-or-open-space
