Green Flag judges David Cochrane and Tim Speller were welcomed to the town hall by Her Worship the Mayor Councillor Debbie Pitts JP ahead of touring six Council-owned sites to be considered for Green Flag status. 

 The Mayor and Mayoress with Green Flag judges David Cochrane, second left and Tim Speller, second right. Also pictured are the park service's Graham Newsome, chief executive Kathleen Rice, regeneration and environment director Dana Enyon, head of parks Dave Hewes and the parks service's Martin Higgins

Since 2013 when Douglas first entered the contest, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Council has been consistently successful, increasing its tally of Green Flags each year.  At its first attempt Douglas was awarded flags for Noble’s Park and the Marine Gardens; 2014 saw two more flags added, Douglas Golf Course and Douglas Head; in 2015 Hutchinson Square brought the count to five and in 2016 a sixth flag was added when Douglas Borough Crematorium and Cemetery achieved Green Flag status. 

Flag holders must apply each year to renew their status and, for 2017, the Council has entered the above six sites once more.

Douglas remains the sole local authority in the Island to have been awarded Green Flags.