There’s love in the air in Green Flag Award parks
05 February 2010
Make it a Valentine’s Day with a difference.
If you’re stuck for inspiration about how to romance your loved one this Valentine’s Day then look no further than your nearest Green Flag award-winning park or green space.
There are over 1000 Green Flag Award parks and green spaces around the country each offering a range of beauty spots and stunning views – the idyllic setting to share a romantic walk with a partner; tantalize their tastebuds with the perfect picnic or even the ultimate valentine’s gesture of going down on one knee with a marriage proposal!
Many of the award-winning parks have also organized a range of Valentine’s themed events to bring a little bit of romance into everyone’s lives: Sefton Park Palmhouse in Liverpool is hosting a Valentine’s Day concert with a performance from the Metropolitan Cathedral Cantata Choir; Warley Woods in the West Midlands are transforming their café into a romantic restaurant for a candlelit dinner; and there’s an art workshop at Ashton Court Estate in Avon where you can make sculptural ‘Love Dragons’ with artist Sarah Tyler. For further info on all of these events and many others click here.
Paul Todd, manager of the Green Flag Award Scheme, said: “There are some beautiful Green Flag Award parks and green spaces that provide the perfect location for some valentine’s romance. All our parks also have the benefit of being free so you don’t need to break the bank in order to impress your loved one with a romantic gesture.“
The 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. There are currently over 1000 parks around the country that are currently proudly flying their Green Flag Award. The application round for 2010/2011 closed at the end of January and the winners will be announced in July, with record numbers expected.
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 closed at the end of January and winners will be announced in July 2010.
* 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;
http://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.