Award handbook
The full Green Flag criteria, scoring rubric, and 2026 season changes — in one place.
Applicant portal / Resources
Resources
Handbooks, templates and walkthroughs — everything you need to write a stronger application.
Library · 124 items
Everything you need to win a Green Flag.
Search the handbook, browse templates, or watch judges walk through real winning applications.
01 / Start here
The essentials
Templates
Management-plan starters, community-survey forms and site-visit checklists ready to download.
Video walkthroughs
Past winners and judges walk through what makes a strong application, criterion by criterion.
02 / Latest
Articles & guides
guideNEW
Writing a management plan that scores 90+
8 min
checklist
Site-visit prep — 14 days out
4 min
rubricNEW
How the 8 criteria are weighted in 2026
6 min
story
How Borough Park rebuilt their community programme
12 min
video
Mystery shopping: what to expect
watch · 9 min
policy
Updates to the Green Heritage accreditation
5 min
03 / Downloads
Templates & PDFs
green-flag-handbook-2026.pdf
4.2 MB
management-plan-template.docx
62 KB
site-visit-checklist.pdf
180 KB
community-survey-form.xlsx
44 KB
04 / Watch
Judging walkthroughs
8 min · 2026 series
Inside a winning application
Judge Mary Slessor breaks down a 92/100 submission, criterion by criterion.