The School Garden in Jakobstad has been awarded the Green Flag Award for 2026–2027.

The School Garden, which took part in the application process for the first time, impressed the judges especially with its excellent maintenance. The jury described the School Garden as follows:

“The School Garden in Jakobstad is maintained to an outstanding standard with great care and dedication. It is a national source of pride and an example for other parks in Finland. The park successfully combines a strong sense of history with the present day. Maintenance is carried out professionally and the quality is excellent. The organisation’s representatives demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting and developing the upkeep of the School Garden so that it provides a pleasant outdoor living space for both residents and visitors. The park is popular among people of all ages and also brings together residents from different cultural backgrounds. The School Garden in Jakobstad is an excellent tourism asset and a showcase of high-quality professional expertise that the city’s decision-makers and residents can be proud of!”

This year, 25 green spaces in Finland received the Green Flag Award. The School Garden in Jakobstad was one of only two sites to receive the award for the first time.

The Green Flag Award programme celebrates its 10th anniversary in Finland in 2026. The Green Flag Award is an accreditation scheme that recognises excellence in the management and maintenance of green spaces. Internationally, the programme is administered by the British environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, while in Finland it is managed by Viherympäristöliitto ry (the Finnish Association of Landscape Industries). Green spaces that receive the Green Flag Award in Finland become part of an international network of more than 2 400 green spaces across 17 countries.

Green Flag Award programme in Finland: https://www.vyl.fi/green-flag-award/
International Green Flag Award website: https://www.greenflagaward.org/

Further information:
Ralf Lillfors, City Gardener
ralf.lillfors@jakobstad.fi