Earlier this week Barnhill Rock Garden was awarded one of the prestigious 2013 Green Flag Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful. It was one of four parks in Dundee to receive this award.
On Monday, I had rather bemoaned the fact that Broughty Ferry had apparently missed out on an award. This conclusion was on the basis of an error in the Press Release distributed by Keep Scotland Beautiful that had referred erroneously to Baxter Rock Garden and Baxter Park.
This award for our Rock Garden is in no small part a recognition of the sterling work of the Friends of Barnhill Rock Garden in partnership with staff from the Environment Department of Dundee City Council.
Parks are assessed by volunteer judges who usually have a background in parks management, conservation or ecology. They judge against eight criteria testing whether the park or green space is:
- welcoming;
- healthy,
- safe and secure;
- clean and well-maintained;
- sustainable;
- manages conservation and heritage;
- has community involvement;
- markets itself, and
- has good management.
Barnhill Rock Garden was first Awarded a Green Flag Award in 2007.
Barnhill Rock Garden is a public park extending to more than two hectares, owned and maintained by Dundee City Council with significant support from the Friends of the Barnhill Rock Garden. It is situated on part of a former nine-hole golf course which was laid out when the Dundee to Aberdeen railway line was built. It is on the Visit Scotland tourist trail and is open to the public at all times.