Dr Sue Christie, Chair of the Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful board; Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor John Finucane; Ricky Rice, City Parks Manager at Belfast City Council and Stanton Martin, Community Parks Manager at Belfast City Council.

A park in south Belfast has been awarded Green Flag status, bringing the total number of such parks and open spaces across the city to 20.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, the environmental charity that runs the scheme in Northern Ireland, has now awarded Drumglass Park, off the Lisburn Road, with its official certification.

Also awarded a Green Flag was Queen’s University, for its’ Lanyon site, which in addition achieved a Green Heritage Site Accreditation, the first university in Northern Ireland to be recognised by the scheme.

Belfast’s Botanic Gardens was also the recipient of a Green Heritage Flag. This award recognises sites that conserve, enhance, and help people to enjoy and celebrate the heritage of the park.

Queen’s University was the location for this year’s annual awards event where a record 76 Green Flags were presented.

Joanne Clague, registrar and chief operating officer of Queen’s University said: “I am very pleased that Queen’s University Belfast is the first university in Northern Ireland to have achieved a Green Flag Award. The university has put significant efforts into creating, and maintaining, a high standard public green space for our staff, students, local community and visitors. We are delighted to have been recognised in this way.”                                                              

The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised certification for environmental quality management for parks and open spaces and is growing from strength to strength in Northern Ireland, increasing from three sites since its inception in 2008.

In order to achieve Green Flag status, parks and open spaces must be able to demonstrate a range of different facets such as; horticultural standards, cleanliness, environmental management, biodiversity, community involvement and safety standards. 

Lord Mayor of Belfast, councillor John Finucane said: “Belfast really does punch well above its weight when it comes to providing world class parks and open spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy. 

“Our team of gardeners and parks staff work tirelessly throughout the year to maintain all of our facilities to an extremely high standard and to have so many Green Flags awarded right across the city is a testament to their hard work and dedication.

“To see Drumglass added to our already impressive list is fantastic and I would encourage everyone to get out and enjoy everything our wonderful parks and open spaces have to offer.”

Dr Ian Humphreys, chief executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said: “It is time once again to celebrate a record number of Green Flag Awards meaning more spaces than ever before offering wonderful experiences for visitors throughout the year. I also want to thank the staff who give their all to maintain these spaces to such high standards for us to enjoy. 

“As all of us (and young people particularly) become glued to our phones and tablets these fantastic green spaces offer some of the closest and most accessible opportunities to explore and connect to nature. Where better to learn about our reliance on the natural world? Where better to spend quality time with friends and family? Where better to relax away from all the busyness of life? Come to think of it I am heading outside…”

To find out more and where you can find your nearest Green Flag park, please visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/parks