The prestigious Green Flag Award serves as an international mark of excellence for parks and green spaces, assuring visitors that these locations are meticulously maintained, safe, cater to the needs of the community and promote healthy lifestyles.
Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, the environmental charity responsible for organising these awards locally, announced that Antrim and Newtownabbey’s 20 Council sites and 6 community spaces have received this distinguished accolade at the awards ceremony in Killeavy Castle, Newry. Among the noteworthy additions to the list of recipients this year are the Monkstown Jubilee Centre and the community site, Elevation Garden, situated along the Viaduct in Randalstown.
Deputy Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Rosie Kinnear said:
"I’m delighted that numerous parks and green spaces across our Borough have been accredited with the prestigious Green Flag award.
“For residents and visitors, it means that their local park or green space has been awarded for their high horticultural standards, cleanliness, biodiversity and the safety of these locations makes them a welcoming and accessible place for all to enjoy.
"Congratulations to the dedicated community groups and teams that go above and beyond to maintain these exceptional sites which is an invaluable contribution to the health and wellbeing of our local people and wildlife. They have all excelled in their commitment to provide beautiful parks and green spaces.”
The full list of sites in the Borough to receive a Green Flag Award include:
Council sites
1. Antrim Castle Gardens (Heritage)
2. Antrim/Belmont & Six Mile Cemetery
3. Antrim Loughshore and Gateway
4. Ballynure Old Graveyard
5. Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Hazelbank Park and Gideons Green
6. Kilbride Cemetery
7. Lilian Bland Park
8. Mallusk Cemetery
9. Mill Race Trail
10. Newtownabbey Way
11. Randalstown Viaduct and Riverside Walk
12. Rashee Cemetery
13. Sentry Hill Historic House & Visitor Centre (Heritage)
14. Sixmile Water Park
15. Valley Park (V36 and Glas-na-braden Glen)
16. Wallace Park
17. Whiteabbey Glen
18. Crumlin Glen
19. Threemilewater Park
20. Monkstown Jubilee Centre
Community sites
- Ballyeaston Church Ruin
- Sentry Hill Community Garden
- Rathfern Activity Centre
- Toome Linear Park
- Elevation Garden, Randalstown
- Monkstown Village Community Garden
For more information on the Parks and Green Spaces who have achieved this award visit antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/visitor/parks-open-spaces/green-flag/