Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 806 Purpose and Aims + To ensure that everybody has access to quality green and other open spaces, irrespective of where they live + To ensure that these spaces are appropriately managed and meet the needs of the communities that they serve + To establish standards of good management, and to promote and share best practice amongst the green space sector + To recognise and reward the hard work of managers, staff and volunteers This Guidance Manual This manual is for applicants and judges, to explain the process and the requirements of the Award. It goes through each of the criteria in detail, under eight section headings, explaining what exactly is being examined in each, the kind of evidence to submit, and what judges will be looking for in the desk assessment and on site. It also suggests issues for managers to consider during their decision-making process. The Concept of the Green Flag Award Successful sites show that they manage a quality space with a clear idea of what they are trying to achieve, why, and who they seek to serve. Award applicants are judged against 27 different criteria and must submit their active management plan, showing that they understand: + the users – who they are, who they could be, what they want, how they are informed and involved + the site – what is special about its history, biodiversity, landscape, social and physical setting, and what it is trying to achieve; and + the management – that what is there is safe, in line with legislation and policy, well maintained, and that there are plans for the future This flexible and useful management framework is the key to the Green Flag Award, making it relevant to any green space. It is deliberately conceived not to be a formulaic list of things to have or to do, but instead as a guide to the ways professionals and communities can approach the management of their sites. It also helps to quantify what they are doing now and in the future, helping to prove value to customers, colleagues and funders. Having a fully considered and fully costed management plan is the first step in ensuring that our green spaces are adequately funded. Good practice is shared between the site managers submitting their management plans for each site and the trained judges (often one and the same) who judge the sites. Each site that enters, whether or not it achieves the Green Flag Award Standard, receives a detailed advisory report written by two expert judges – helping to share, recognise and reward good practice across the sector. Aspiring judges can submit their CV to the Green Flag Award team through the website; If successful, you will be selected for a training course and then mentored closely for the first year by an experienced judge. Introduction