UK'S BEST PARK: Northern Ireland's Best Parks decided by your votes
This summer's UK's Best Park award has seen all-time high numbers of nominations and a record votes tally, with 36,832 park users casting votes to help decide the winner of the UK's Best Park 2019.
In Northern Ireland, you nominated 17 local parks and green spaces which are special to you. These nominations were then championed by park users, communities, Friends of groups, landowners and elected representatives as part of the public vote.
Following close of voting, we are delighted to be able to reveal the overall winner for Northern Ireland, as well as the parks which your votes mean have received "Much Loved" status. Each will receive a certificate recognising your support, whilst the national winner now joins Stanley Park and Cyfarthfa Park on the shortlist for the overall title of UK's Best Park 2019, the winner of which will be revealed on Thursday 12th September. Make sure you're following @FieldsInTrust on social media to keep right up to date with the winners!
Northern Ireland winner
Antrim Castle Gardens
Randalstown Road, Antrim
Described by its nominator as: "The journey of Antrim Castle Gardens from local gem to national treasure is one of transformation achieved by a passionate team driven by ambition to put their place on the map. This spectacular transformation has firmly established the majestic Gardens as the jewel in the crown of the Council's offering."
"Much Loved" spaces
Antrim Castle Gardens was one of three spaces in Northern Ireland which placed within the top 20% of all nominations nationally in voting for UK's Best Park 2019. Each of these spaces receives "Much Loved" status, recognising the support they have received this summer from those who use and love them. The other two "Much Loved" spaces in Northern Ireland are:
Carnfunnock Country Park
Larne, County Antrim
Craigavon City Park
Craigavon, County Armagh
Celebrating one long Summer of Parks
This Summer of Parks you've been showing love for your local parks in unprecedented numbers. From a record-breaking Have a Field Day to the biggest UK's Best Park award yet, it is clear how much we all love our local parks. Each "Much Loved" park will receive a certificate denoting its status - we will be in touch with the landowner to arrange delivery of this certificate and discuss celebrations for the newly conferred status. The park's nominator for UK's Best Park 2019 will also receive acknowledgement that their favourite local green space is amongst the nation's favourites.
Our Summer of Parks will conclude on Thursday 12th September with the announcement of the UK's Best Park 2019. This day is also an opportunity to champion those parks to receive "Much Loved" status with their new certificates, as well as celebrate all parks and green spaces across the country which are special in their own ways to those who use and love them.
Green spaces are good and they do good. Your support will help us to protect green spaces for good.
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About Fields in Trust
Fields in Trust is an independent charity with over 90 years’ experience protecting parks and green spaces. We work with landowners, community groups and policy makers to champion the value of our parks and green spaces to achieve better protection for their future at both local and national level.
You can donate to support our work to protect, support and champion green spaces for good.
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UK's Best Park: Celebrate your favourite local green space - discover the results
