The Crichton Estate Achieves Environmental Excellence

Pictured (from L – R): Head Gardener Gary McCormick, COO Rachel Cowper and Maintenance Team Member Steven Carson at The Crichton’s wildflower meadow.

The Crichton Trust are pleased to announce that the Estate has successfully achieved the Green Flag Award standard for another year, and is recognised as one of the very best outdoor areas in Scotland. 

The Crichton Estate is just one of two spaces in Dumfries and Galloway to be awarded Green Flag Status, and the grounds met the international standard in the following areas: 

• A welcoming place  
• Healthy, safe and secure  
• Well maintained and clean  
• Environmental management  
• Biodiversity, landscape and heritage  
• Community involvement  
• Marketing and communication  
• Management 

Gwilym Gibbons, Chief Executive at The Crichton Trust had the following to say about the achievement: 

“We’re proud that The Crichton has achieved Green Flag status for a second year. Not only does it align with our journey towards achieving Net Zero by 2030, but it also demonstrates our commitment to our heritage and the local community. Ensuring that local people have access to a safe, clean outdoor space is part of our belief that health and wellness is to be supported as a key part of our everyday life.” 

He continued: 

“The recognition of the hard work that the team puts into the grounds within The Crichton Estate is a real achievement, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Grounds Team for their ongoing year-round work which this award is a testament to. As custodians of this 85-acre estate, we’re honoured to fly the Green Flag and we’re committed to using the Green Flag framework to continue to highlight the benefit and value of green spaces to our community as we strive to increase the biodiversity onsite as part of our 100 year landscape plan.” 

Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful announced today that 87 Scottish parks have been presented with a Green Flag Award, an accolade that acknowledges quality green open spaces across the country that help to boost health and wellbeing. The international Green Flag Award is administered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful and acts as a benchmark for recreational outdoor space. 

The purpose and aim of the scheme is to ensure that everybody has access to quality green and other open spaces, irrespective of where they live, and to ensure that these spaces are appropriately managed and meet the needs of the communities that they serve. The Green Flag Award scheme also aims to: 

• Establish standards of good management. 
• Promote and share good practice amongst the green space sector. 
• Recognise and reward the hard work of managers, staff and volunteers. 

 Parks and open spaces make a tangible positive contribution to the nation’s well-being, with proven links between physical and mental health and easy access to safe, clean and inspiring green spaces. management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. 

Jamie Ormiston, Senior Awards Officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said:  

“Congratulations to all of our fantastic award-winning green spaces across Scotland. Every park has a wide range of people visiting them and their requirements can vary. What is essential is that they are well maintained and provide a safe place for people to relax and have fun.  

“Our award-winning parks have demonstrated they are worthy winners, meeting the criteria of the coveted international award. Receiving this prestigious benchmark recognises all the hard work that has gone into maintaining and managing these precious green open spaces.  

“Green spaces are so important for our physical and mental wellbeing and it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of parks and green spaces across the entire length of the country. I encourage everyone to make the most of them this summer.”