The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom. The scheme was set up in 1996 to recognise and reward green spaces in England and Wales

England and Wales

England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...

 that met the laid down high standards. It is also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas. Any free to enter public park or green space is eligible to apply for an Award. The scheme is owned by the Government through the Department for Communities and Local Government

Department for Communities and Local Government

The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...

, though it is managed by other agents under contract. A pilot scheme was started in 2007 in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 and three parks were given awards.Both primary and secondary

Secondary school

Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...

 schools may be awarded the Green Flag in recognition of steps taken towards making the school increasingly eco-friendly.

Parks and green spaces are judged in April and May each year and the winners are announced in July. Parks must apply each year to keep their Green Flag Award, and winning sites are eligible to fly a Green Flag in the park for a year.

Sites for a Green Flag Award are judged against eight key criteria:

• A welcoming place
• Healthy, safe and secure
• Clean and well maintained
• Sustainability
• Conservation and heritage
• Community involvement
• Marketing
• Management

Green Pennant Award

The Green Flag Award itself is for public-run open spaces, but the same scheme runs an award for community/charity-run public spaces, such as Millennium Green

Millennium Green

245 Millennium Greens were created in cities, towns and villages across England to celebrate the turn of the Millennium. Funded in part by the National Lottery via the Countryside Agency, they are permanent areas of green space for the benefit of local communities...

s and Doorstep Greens

Doorstep Greens

Doorstep Greens are locally-owned and run public spaces across England. They were first created by the Countryside Agency in a project started in 2001. The Agency set out to find green spaces which could be organised into relatively small parks and then create a local charitable trust to own,...

 called the Green Pennant Award. This scheme, started in 2002, has adapted the criteria for voluntary organisations.

Sites for a Green Pennant Award are judged against eight key criteria:

• A welcoming place
• Healthy, safe and secure
• Well maintained and clean
• Environmental sustainability
• Biodiversity and heritage
• Community involvement
• Achievement

Green Heritage Site Accreditation

Green Flag Award winning sites over 30 years old may also apply for Green Heritage Site Accreditation.

History and management

The scheme was originally run by volunteers from its founding in the 1990s. It was then sponsored by the government and run by the Civic Trust

Civic Trust

The Civic Trust of England was a charitable organisation founded in 1957. It ceased operations in 2009 and went into administration due to lack of funds/...

 till the latter went into administration in 2009. Since then it has been managed by a consortium of Keep Britain Tidy

Keep Britain Tidy

Keep Britain Tidy is a British campaign run by the Keep Britain Tidy environmental charity, which is part funded by the UK government. The majority of their campaigning is around the issue of litter. They have been using "Keep Britain Tidy" as their slogan for almost fifty years...

, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and the charity Greenspace. Judges continue to be unpaid volunteers with experience and competence in the management of parks.