Get fit for 2010 in Green Flag Award parks

15 January 2010

As the new year dawns and the January snow is finally melting, it’s time to dust off your trainers, blow the cobwebs off your tracksuit and resolve to burn off those extra pounds gained from over-indulging over the Christmas period. 

Green Flag Award® parks and green spaces provide the perfect location for all kinds of exercise from jogging and cycling to a Tai-chi session or a gentle stroll to admire the scenery.  Exercise is an essential part of any healthy lifestyle and has been proven to help maintain overall fitness, improve our mental and emotional health and even help us live longer. And with all Green Flag Award® parks being free to enter then there’s no need to burn a hole in your purse with expensive gym memberships and training equipment.

Many Green Flag Award® parks have organized activities to make getting fit even easier: in Cheshire there’s a ramble from Rock Park to Wigg Island this weekend; Warley Woods in the West Midlands has organized a Bird Walk later in the month; or why not give archery a try at Summerhill in the Tees Valley. You can find a full list of all organized events and activities in Green Flag Award® parks by clicking here.

Paul Todd, manager of the Green Flag Award® Scheme, said: “As we enter a new decade, it’s time for us all to make the effort to get fit and there’s no better place to do this than in a Green Flag award-winning park or green space.  Check out our website (www.greenflagaward.org.uk) to find out where your nearest Green Flag Award® park or green space is. “

Green Flag Award® is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England, Wales and Scotland and recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country.  This year, a record number of parks achieved a Green Flag Award® with over 1000 receiving the high flying accolade.  The number of applicants is expected to increase for 2010/2011. 

Keep Britain Tidy runs the Green Flag Award® in partnership with BTCV and GreenSpace.

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For more information call Karen Williams at The Keep Britain Tidy press office 01942 612628 or email Karen.williams@keepbritaintidy.org     

Notes to Editors

* Green Flag Award® recognises well managed and high quality green spaces.  Any green space is eligible to win this award providing they are free to enter.  Winners include parks managed by local authorities as well as those run by local community groups and trusts.  The scheme was set up in 1996.

* A record number of parks and green spaces have been awarded a Green Flag Award® or Green Pennant Award® for 2009/2010 with over 1000 currently flying a green flag or green pennant.  The application process for 2010/2011 is currently open and will close on January 31st 2010. For more information on how to apply click here.

* Sites for Green Flag are judged against eight criteria: a welcoming place; healthy safe and secure; clean and well-maintained; sustainability; conservation and heritage; community involvement; marketing; and management.

* Green Flag Award® is supported by Communities and Local Government (CLG) and Keep Britain Tidy runs Green Flag Award® in partnership with GreenSpace, and BTCV. Before March 2009 the awards were run by The Civic Trust.  For more information visit:

www.communities.gov.uk

www.keepbritaintidy.org

www.green-space.org.uk

www.btcv.org

* You can vote for your favourite park or green space by clicking here. If your favourite park or green space isn’t listed then why not nominate it to win a Green Flag Award® giving the reasons why you think it deserves to win.

* Sign up to become a Keep Britain Tidy supporter at www.keepbritaintidy.org and receive a free badge and regular updates.