Keep Scotland Beautiful has announced that 71 Scottish parks have been presented with a Green Flag Award in 2019. The accolade acknowledges parks and outdoor spaces across the country that provide quality green open spaces, helping to boost our nation's health and wellbeing.

The International Green Flag Award, administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful, acts as a benchmark for recreational outdoor space. The award celebrates well maintained parks and greenspaces and supports the opportunities that they provide to enable exercise, improve mental wellbeing and provide safe spaces for play. Almost 2,000 parks across the world have achieved the award.

Amongst the 2019 award winners are spaces run by local authorities, community groups and universities. First time awards have been presented in Aberdeen to Slopefield Allotments, South Ayrshire to Bellisle Park and the Western Isles to community managed Eoropie Park. In addition, Duthie Park in Aberdeen and Bellisle Park in South Ayrshire have been presented with prestigious Heritage Awards, recognising how they are managing to support and promote their unique heritage. A full list of Scotland’s 2019 award winners can be found here

Derek Robertson, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful, commented:

“I would like to congratulate all of Scotland’s award-winning parks. Receiving this prestigious international benchmark recognises all of the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.

“Every single one of these parks provides an invaluable service to the local communities that it serves - from creating a safe space to play, to think, to work out - helping to address many of the health and wellbeing challenges we face as a country.”

Julie Procter, Chief Executive of greenspace scotland, said:

“We know that greenspace is good for people and communities- it makes our lives and places better. Our goal at greenspace scotland is that everyone enjoys easy access to quality greenspace which meets their needs and improves their quality of life. This is why we’re delighted to see so many Scottish parks being presented with a Green Flag award in 2019 and would like to offer a big well done to everyone who works hard on achieving the award for Scotland’s parks”

Access an interactive map of Scotland’s Green Flag sites