Flags flying high at some of UK’s best green spaces in St Albans District
Prestigious Green Flags are flying high at Verulamium Park, Bricket Wood Common, Clarence Park, Rothamsted Park, Sopwell Nunnery Green Space and Hatfield Road Cemetery.
Managed by St Albans City and District Council, these parks and green spaces have again been recognised as some of the best in the UK.
They are among a record-breaking 1,797 UK parks and green spaces that have just been presented with Green Flag Awards for 2017. A Green Flag Award is the mark of a quality park or green space.
This international annual award scheme, run by Keep Britain Tidy, is now into its third decade.
Green Flags are a sign that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is well maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
Any green space that is 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.
Cllr Daniel Chichester-Miles, Environmental Portfolio Holder for St Albans City and District Council, said: “Quality green spaces and parks matter to residents and visitors. It is fantastic news that these six Council-managed parks and green spaces in St Albans District have retained their Green Flag status. This shows that they are being maintained to a recognised high standard.
“Join us in celebrating these awards by visiting our wonderful parks and green spaces over the summer months. They are great places for picnics, playing games, walking the dog, getting fit or taking a quiet stroll surrounded by nature.”
In addition, Verulamium Park also retained accreditation as a Green Heritage Site. The park is named after the Roman City of Verulamium on which it stands and the Roman City walls can still be seen. The Green Heritage Site accreditation recognises that conservation standards are good and that historic features are given prominence and enjoyed by the public.
International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme.
“Each flag is a celebration of the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. The success of the scheme, especially in these challenging times, demonstrates just how much parks matter to people.”
Find out more about the Council’s parks and green spaces on the Council's website.
There is also lots of information about all the parks and open spaces across Hertfordshire on the new website www.parksherts.co.uk.
Notes:
The Green Flag Awards Scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Department of Communities and Local Government. The scheme is run in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens and the National Housing Federation.
Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We campaign for quality parks and green spaces for everyone, inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and to live more. We run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.
Any green space that is 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 Flag Community 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.
Councillor contact:
Cllr Daniel Chichester-Miles, Environmental Portfolio Holder for St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819281
Email: cllr.d.chichester-miles@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact for the media:
Amanda Wilkinson,
Senior Communications Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819317
E-mail: amanda.wilkinson@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/StAlbansCouncil
Contact the Keep Britain Tidy press office:
Helen Bingham 01942 612617 helen.bingham@keepbritaintidy.org
Sarah French 01942 612659 sarah.french@keepbritaintidy.org
Keep Britain Tidy Mobile: 07768 880016
Keep Britain Tidy has ISDN radio facilities for interviews
ISDN: 01942 322178
Please contact the press office in advance to make arrangements
Photo:
Holding up the Green Flag Award at Verulamium Park: Cllr Daniel Chichester-Miles, Environmental Portfolio Holder for St Albans City and District Council and Cllr Jessica Chivers, a member of Verulamium Park’s Consultative Forum