Green flag for Parndon Wood
Parndon Wood Nature Reserve officially one of the best
kept parks
For the second year running Harlow Council's Parndon Wood Nature
Reserve has been awarded a prestigious Green Flag, which officially
recognises it as one of the best kept green spaces in the
country.
Celebrating the news today were volunteers and Council staff who
joined Harlow Council Vice-Chairman Mike Garnett and Councillor
Tony Hall at the Reserve. See picture above.
Green Flag Awards recognise and reward the
best parks in the country and Parndon Wood Nature Reserve stood out
after impressing the judges with its excellent use of green space,
well-maintained facilities and high standard of safety and
security.
This year has seen the highest number of
awards handed out – a record 1200 Green Flags and Green Pennants
across the UK compared to 1,013 in 2009. Green Pennants are awarded
to parks or green spaces managed by a community or voluntary
group.
Only green spaces that are free to enter and
open to the public are eligible to win an award through the scheme,
which is run by environmental charities Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and
GreenSpace.
Paul Todd, Manager, Green Flag Award
Scheme, said:
“It’s a remarkable achievement that so many
parks have successfully reached Green Flag Award status this year.
The staff running the parks work very hard throughout the year to
ensure their facilities are maintained to a high standard and
enjoyed by the entire community.
“As the recession bites and people look closer
to home to enjoy the outdoors, the provision of high-quality, free
open spaces is of particular importance.”
Councillor Tony Hall, Executive
Committee Member and Chairman of Harlow Council’s Environment
Policy Working Group, said:
“I am delighted that one of the town’s much
loved open spaces has been recognised with a Green Flag award for
the second year running. This is a very prestigious accolade
to keep being awarded. We work hard to maintain the town’s open
spaces and winning this award means Parndon Wood Nature Reserve is
one of the best kept parks in the country. Gaining Green Flag
status is the benchmark of excellence all public parks in the
country want to reach.
Cllr Hall, added: “To be awarded a Green Flag
for the second year running is testament to the hard work of
Council officers and the many volunteers who help maintain the
reserve.
The awards could not come at a better time as
GreenSpace’s ‘Love Parks’ week takes place between July 24 and
August 1, during which people will be encouraged to enjoy the
nation’s parks and green spaces.
The Green Flag Award Scheme is managed by a
consortium, comprising Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace.
Known collectively as the Green Flag Plus Partnership, the
consortium manages the scheme in England on behalf of Communities
and Local Government (CLG) and in Wales for the Welsh Steering
Group.
The applications for the Green Flag Awards 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.
For more information visit: http://www.greenflagaward.org/