A record breaking 1424 parks and green spaces receive a Green Flag Award
17 July 2012
A garden among the gravestones and a nature reserve created from the spoil of Channel Tunnel are just two of the record number of 1424 UK sites receiving a Green Flag Award today – the national award for public and community parks and green spaces.
The record number of sites receiving an award this year ensures that even more of us now have access to well-managed, high-quality green spaces so important for health and leisure activities.
Examples of Green Flag Awards this year include:
- A small community-driven grounds of St Luke's Church in Crosby, Merseyside.
- East London 's Victoria Park on the doorstep of the Olympic Village;
- Samphire Hoe, a stunning nature reserve created from Channel Tunnel spoil, on Kent's coast;
- The Formal Gardens and Central Woodland of Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh;
- The 268 acre Roselawn Cemetery, Belfast,
- Bedwellty Park in Tredegar, Wales, recently restored with Heritage Lottery funding
Award-winning sites, which can be found at www.greenflagaward.org.uk will be raising their flags throughout the week and celebrating their success during Love Parks Week, which runs from the 21st to the 29th July.
The Green Flag Award scheme continues to grow internationally with expansion into the Netherlands and Germany due to ambitious pilot projects.
Communities Minister, Andrew Stunell said: “Great parks and green spaces have a huge impact on local communities, providing places to play and relax as well as bringing generations together in a variety of ways. They are fundamental to our quality of life, whether in cities, towns or villages, and the Green Flag Award scheme seeks to help raise the standards of them all. The many excellent stories coming from the scheme prove what communities and volunteers can achieve by working together with professionals in our green spaces. Well done to all those involved in creating these inspirational places for everyone to enjoy.”
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:
“We are thrilled to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces. A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the achievements of all those whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.
“I must also thank all this year’s 800+ volunteer judges for their magnificent efforts in assessing an astounding number of applications.”
Information on all winners can be viewed at: on the Green Flag Award website where you will find a wealth of fascinating stories behind our award winning green spaces – see below for examples:
London's Green Flag Victoria Park has been chosen as an Olympic Live Site following a £12m facelift: