Friday 12:50
England's best parks and green spaces were revealed today by Liveability Minister Kay Andrews.
Twenty-four parks and green spaces from across the six counties in the East of England are celebrating after being awarded a Green Flag Award - the national benchmark for quality parks and green spaces. A record 423 Green Flag Awards have been awarded to sites across the country.
In addition six community run sites in the region were awarded Green Pennants and two sites, both in Essex, achieved Green Heritage Site Accreditation. [See Notes to Editors for a full list.]
Winners are judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained with the strong involvement of the local community. This year, the 10th anniversary of the scheme, has seen a 32 per cent rise in the number of winners, further evidence of the renaissance of our parks and green spaces highlighted by the National Audit Office earlier this year.
Visiting the award-winning St Ann's Well community park in Hove, located around a Saxon spring, which features a scented garden, Kay Andrews said:
"This has been decade of real achievement for our parks and green spaces. Across the country, communities have seen a renaissance take place in their local environment, with parks and green spaces once again becoming places of pride, bringing people together and improving their quality of life. The record number of Green Flag winners is testament to this success.
"I want to congratulate all the winners and the commitment and skill of all those involved in creating such high quality parks and green spaces. Challenges remain to ensure all communities benefit from this renaissance and the Green Flag Award will continue to be at the heart of driving up standards. Our ambition is that everyone should have easy access to superb green space where they live, work and spend their leisure time."
Paul Todd, the Green Flag Award scheme's programme manager, said:
"As a charity concerned with urban renaissance, the Civic Trust is delighted to once again announce a huge growth in winners, highlighting the importance quality green spaces play in our communities. These winning sites are all freely accessible to the public, providing time out from the stresses of modern day life. "Well done to the many dedicated parks staff, friends groups and passionate individuals who have worked hard to provide these vital green spaces which help improve the quality of life for everyone."
Following the announcement, many of these Green Flags will be hoisted during a week long celebration of these fantastic green spaces encouraging people to 'Take to Your Local Park' from Saturday July 29 to Sunday 6 August.
The Green Flag Award is a key component of the Government's commitment to create cleaner, safer, green communities. The 10th anniversary of the Scheme will be marked by a major ceremony at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham on Thursday 3 August when all winners will be awarded their Green Flags.
Notes to Editors
1. The Green Flag Award scheme, launched in 1996, is managed by the Civic Trust on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Green Flag Advisory Board which comprises founders of the scheme, sponsors, winners and judges.
2. Green Flag Award Winners - 24 in the East of England: - Admirals Park & Tower Gardens including West Park - Chelmsford Borough Council - Belhus Woods Country Park, Aveley - Essex County Council - Boleyn Gardens, Beaulieu Park, Chelmsford - Chelmsford Borough Council - Brantwood Park - Luton Borough Council - Castle Park, Colchester - Colchester Borough Council - Central Park, Peterborough - Peterborough City Council - Chelmer Park - Chelmsford Borough Council - Cheshunt Park, Cheshunt - Borough of Broxbourne - Elmhurst Park, Woodbridge - Woodbridge Town Council - Grays Beach Riverside Park, Grays - Thurrock Council - High Woods Country Park, Colchester - Colchester Borough Council - Holt Country Park, Holt - North Norfolk District Council - Jubilee Gardens, Ely - East Cambridgeshire District Council - King George Recreation Ground, Bushey - Hertsmere Borough Council - Nowton Park - St Edmundsbury Council - Oak Tree Meadow - Maldon District Council - Oaklands Park, Chelmsford - Chelmsford Borough Council - Oakmere Park, Potters Bar - Hertsmere Borough Council - Priory Country Park, Bedford - Bedford Borough Council - Promenade Park, Maldon - Maldon District Council - Shoebury Park, Shoeburyness - Southend on Sea Borough Council - Southchurch Park, Southend on Sea - Southend on Sea Borough Council - Stanborough Park - Finesse Leisure Partnership (Welwyn Garden City) - Wardown Park - Luton Borough Council
Green Pennant Award Winners - 6 in the East of England - Earthworks St Albans - St Albans (Hertfordshire) - Fairstead Doorstep Green - Fairstead Area Neighbourhood Group (Norfolk) - Hill Rise Local Nature Reserve - Hill Rise Residents Team (Bedfordshire) - Oakwood Community Field Project - The Whitton Tenants & Residents Association (Waveney, Suffolk) - Sea Palling with Waxham Doorstep Green - Sea Palling with Waxham Playing Field Management Fund (North Norfolk) - West Horndon Park - West Horndon Park Association Ltd (Essex)
Green Heritage Site Winners - 2 in the East of England - Castle Park, Colchester - Colchester Borough Council, Essex - Oaklands Park, Chelmsford - Chelmsford Borough Council, Essex
3. The scheme is sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, English Heritage, The Countryside Agency, English Nature and in Wales by the Countryside Council for Wales, Design Commission for Wales and Welsh Assembly Government.
4. Any green space in England and Wales that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. A Green Pennant Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage Site accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site's historic features and the standard of conservation. Sites are judged in May and June each year and the winners are announced in July, flying their Green Flag until July the following year.
5. The Department for Communities and Local Government leads the Government's drive to create cleaner, safer, greener communities. Further details are available at http://www.cleanersafergreener.gov.uk
6. The Civic Trust is an independent, national charity, founded in 1957. It works with people to promote thriving towns and villages, developing partnerships between communities, government and business to deliver regeneration and local improvement. It is the umbrella body for 850 civic societies across the country, representing over 250,000 individuals committed to improving and caring for places where people live and work. http://www.civictrust.org.uk
7. Find your nearest Green Flag Award winning site by visiting http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk featuring the most comprehensive guide to events taking place in parks and green spaces throughout the year.
8. The National Audit Office published its value for money study, 'Enhancing Urban Green Spaces' on 2 March 2006. See http://www.nao.org.uk
Go to http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk to find out what events are taking place in your area for Take to Your Local Park week!
Issued on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) by GNN East.
Public Enquiries: 020 7944 4400 Department for Communities and Local Government Website: http://www.communities.gov.uk
Client ref DCLG/E/39-06
