It looked at first like a successful ascent of Mount Usborne.
In fact, what half-frozen passers-by witnessed yesterday lunchtime was the hoisting of a prestigious Green Flag over King George V Park.
Members of the local Friends group and Council staff met to celebrate the award (one of 26 in the city), first announced in September.
The Green Flag scheme has been the national benchmark for excellence since 1996. It judges green public spaces of all kinds according to eight criteria:
- welcoming place
- healthy, safe and secure
- clean and well maintained
- sustainability
- conservation and heritage
- community involvement
- marketing
- management.
It was created as part of a memorial programme after the death in 1936 of King George V, and was opened by the Duke of Buccleuch 14 years later. However, it had many varied leisure uses before that date, and parts of it were substaintially reclaimed in local initiatives afterwards.
Huge improvements to landscaping, equipment and general maintenance have been seen over the past 12 years, thanks largely to the hard work and cooperation of local residents and CEC Parks staff.
Parents, children, sunbathers, joggers, sandwiching office workers and dogs across Broughton owe them thanks. Even better would be an offer of help ... to get in touch or find out more, visit the Friends’ website here.
Inverleith Park and Hopetoun Crescent Garden are other local winners of the award.
