UK parks hit Green Flag record
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A record 2,391 parks and green spaces earned the Green Flag Award in 2026, marking 30 years of the scheme run by Keep Britain Tidy for top standards in maintenance, safety, and environment.
The 2,391 sites across the UK includes everything from world-famous city parks and country parks to local nature reserves, university campuses, and community gardens.
Wales set a national record with 330 winners, thanks to volunteers who transformed sites like Dee Park Community Woodland by planting over 5,500 trees on former steelworks land. Standouts include Cardiff’s Roath Park with its new Green Heritage status for the Scott Memorial lighthouse, Blackpool’s Art Deco Stanley Park, and perfect scores from councils like Fylde, all creating vital havens for health and wildlife.
Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces in the UK has consistently grown from 2020 to 2026, to its new all-time high in 2026:
2026: 2,391 sites (30th Anniversary of the scheme)
2025: 2,250 sites
2024: 2,227 sites
2023: 2,216 sites
2022: 2,208 sites
2021: 2,067 sites
The Green Flag Award is the international benchmark standard for publicly accessible parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom and around the world. Managed by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy (along with sister organisations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland), the award recognises and rewards well-managed, clean, and safe recreational outdoor spaces.
Award Criteria
To achieve Green Flag status, each park and green space is formally judged against strict criteria:
• A welcoming place: Safe, accessible, and inclusive for all visitors.
• Healthy, safe and secure: Well-maintained equipment, clear signage, and high standards of cleanliness.
• Well maintained and clean: Effective litter and waste management, with well-kept buildings and landscapes.
• Environmental management: Use of sustainable practices, pesticide reduction, and waste recycling.
• Biodiversity, landscape and heritage: Conservation of natural habitats and historic features.
• Community involvement: Active engagement with local volunteers, “Friends of” groups, and the surrounding community.
• Management: A clear strategy for the future of the park and its continuous improvement.
Find a Green Flag Park Near You
Because awards are evaluated and renewed annually, Green Flag parks represent the absolute highest quality of green infrastructure.
You can explore all the award-winning locations using the Green Flag Award Winner Finder.
https://www.greenflagaward.org/news/2026-award-winners-announcement/
