Ards and North Down’s Parks Recognised with Seven Green Flag Awards
9th October 2026
Ards and North Down Borough Council is celebrating after seven of its parks and green spaces were awarded the internationally recognised Green Flag Award, the benchmark standard for high-quality parks and green spaces across the UK and beyond.
The Council was awarded Green Flag status for:
- Ballymenoch Park
- Castle Park and Walled Garden, Bangor
- Cairn Wood
- Clandeboye Cemetery
- Kiltonga Nature Reserve
- Linear Park, Bangor
- Londonderry Park
The Green Flag programme, managed in Northern Ireland by Live Here Love Here, recognise sites that meet stringent criteria relating to environmental management, biodiversity, cleanliness, safety, accessibility and community involvement.
Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney, said:
“We are delighted that seven of our parks and green spaces have achieved Green Flag Award status. These awards reflect the Council’s ongoing commitment to providing welcoming, safe and well-maintained spaces for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Our parks, nature reserves and open spaces play a vital role in supporting health and wellbeing, encouraging outdoor recreation and protecting local biodiversity. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our parks teams and volunteers who help ensure these spaces remain places of pride for our communities.”
The Green Flag Award is an internationally recognised benchmark of quality for public green spaces. In 2026/27, 122 parks and green spaces across Northern Ireland achieved Green Flag status. The programme is managed by Live Here Love Here, sponsored by Power NI (part of Energia Group), and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
For more information about parks and open spaces in Ards and North Down, visit www.ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk.
Photo Caption: The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney alongside Niamh Watterson, Environmental Officer, Live Here Love Here.
