Cork parks not flagging behind

4 Cork city parks have been awarded green flags, acknowledging them as some of the very best in the country.

Both Fitzgerald's Park and Shalom Park retained their green flags from last year, with new green flags being awarded to the Regional Park Ballincollig and Douglas Community Park.

The awards were announced last week by An Taisce Environmental Education. The Green Flag Award Scheme is an international benchmarking standard for parks and green spaces and aims to encourage the provision of good quality public parks that are managed in an environmentally sustainable way.

Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Deirdre Forde said she was particularly happy to see 2 parks within the recently extended city boundary – Ballincollig and Douglas – achieve such distinction.

The Lord Mayor said: “We are thrilled to receive so many green flags. Parks, greenways, recreation facilities and green spaces have never been more needed for both physical and mental well-being by residents and visitors and particularly during the Covid-19 global pandemic.

“Parks provide places for people to relax and enjoy nature within the busy and bustling city environment,” she said.

Stephen Scully, Cork City Council Parks and Recreation department, added: “Receiving 4 green flags for our beautiful parks is a testament to the efforts of all parks staff and volunteer groups who work tirelessly to reach such high standards required by the green flag criteria. Our green flags will be raised in each park in the coming weeks.”

All Cork city parks showcase Cork City Council's policy of promoting biodiversity by planting pollinator-friendly plants to replace traditional seasonal bedding, changing grass mowing regimes to increase native wildflowers, elimination of pesticides for general maintenance, adapting to climate change, and involving local communities in biodiversity initiatives.