Published on 16th July 2024

View of Pittville Park with daisies, the lake and path with seating area.

Seven parks and green spaces across Cheltenham retain their Green Flag status for another year after being named among the best in the country.

Sandford Park, Hatherley Park, Montpellier Gardens, Naunton Park, Pittville Park, Springfields Park and Winston Churchill Memorial Garden have all achieved accreditation which recognises the hard work and dedication of the teams, volunteers and partners who make these spaces great places for everyone to enjoy.

Pittville Park has also again achieved the Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management of its historic features.

Cllr Izaac Tailford, cabinet member for waste, recycling and public realm, said: “We are thrilled that seven of our town’s parks have once again received a Green Flag award. It is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, friends of groups, green space team, UBICO grounds maintenance and cleansing team who work tirelessly to keep these wonderful spaces up to such incredibly high standards. Thank you to everyone involved for their hard work.”

Richard de Carteret, chair of the Friends of Hatherley Park, said: “The award of our Green Flag for yet another year is a fitting tribute to all the hard work done by our dedicated group of volunteers - both past and present - over the years. Well done all!”

Christopher Veal, Volunteer Co-ordinator for Winston Churchill Memorial Garden, added: “We are immensely pleased with the renewal of the Green Flag status for Winston Churchill Memorial Gardens for 2024/25. The development and maintenance of the park has been an ongoing collaborative effort between the council, Ubico and the Friends of WCMG volunteer group, and it is particularly pleasing that the outcomes of the continued investment and many hours of hard work have been recognised."

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved on achieving a Green Flag Award.

“Cheltenham is a vital green space for communities in Cheltenham to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

“We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement. 

It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

To keep up to date with all the latest news about Cheltenham’s parks and gardens visit www.cheltenham.gov.uk/parks.

For press enquiries, contact: communications, email [email protected] or telephone 01242 264231.

Notes:

The Green Flag Award Scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

Any green space that is freely 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 Award 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. 

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We set the standard for the management of parks and beaches, inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and live more sustainably. We run campaigns and programmes including the Great British Spring Clean, Eco-Schools, Love Parks Week, Buy Nothing New Month, Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces, the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches and blue spaces, and the Green Key for sustainable tourism and hospitality. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our campaigns and programmes visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.

About Historic England

Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. The organisation protects, champions and saves the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation.