Springfields Park is flying the Green Flag

Springfields Park in Springbank is one of the best in the country – and that’s official.
Recently Springfields Park received the Green Flag Award, a sign to visitors that the park is well-maintained and well-managed, with excellent facilities.  Montpellier Gardens, Hatherley Park and Naunton Park have also retained their Green Flag status.

The judging took place in June and the results were announced last week. To achieve the status of a Green Flag, the judges score each park under key areas which include: a welcoming place; clean and well maintained; sustainability; conservation and heritage; and community involvement.

This is the first Green Flag for Springfields Park – formally known as Welch Road playing field – which began its transformation in 2007. It has little to offer people by way of facilities and was considered a ‘no go’ area because of the anti-social behaviour.

The redevelopment has seen major landscaping works, installation of facilities including a natural play area and creation of multiple new habitats for wildlife.

Councillor Roger Whyborn, cabinet member for sustainability said:  ‘’This award represents the hard work and dedication of council staff, volunteers, community groups and local residents.  The park has been transformed and it’s now a place to enjoy. It’s also pleasing that we have retained the Green Flag status in three of Cheltenham’s other prestigious parks.’’

Phil Barton, Green Flag Plus Partnership chairman said: “I would like to congratulate this year’s winners, who have worked hard throughout the year to keep their parks and green spaces at a high standard and ensure they are pleasant and enjoyable spaces for the whole community.

“The Green Flag Award Scheme, and its growth, is essential in driving up the standards of our parks and green spaces.  Access to quality green space is something we all desire and the scheme plays a key role in providing it.

“In these challenging financial times it is heartening that the number of Green Flag
Awards continue to grow.  As the value of green space and the role it plays in our communities strengthens, we must ensure these high standards remain.”

All award-winning sites now have the chance to receive a further award from the Green Flag Plus Partnership, the People’s Choice Award.  This award is voted for by the public, so if residents want to see their local park receive a national accolade as the people’s choice, then visit the Green Flag Award website now to vote - http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/

 

For press enquiries, contact: Katie Sandey, communications and web team leader, telephone 01242 775050 or email: Katie.sandey@cheltenham.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

• This is the second award that Springfields Park has received this year. Sustainability South West awarded the park with a Planting Place award in recognition of the huge array of benefits that the green space provides in support of healthy and sustainable communities.

• 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.

• Green Flag Award recognises well managed, high quality green spaces.  Any green space is eligible to win this award providing visitors can enter free of charge.  Previous winners include parks managed by local authorities as well as those run by community groups and trusts.  The scheme was set up in 1996.

• In 2011 1,288 parks and green spaces have been awarded the Green Flag and Community Award.

• Green Flag’s vision is that by 2020, 50 per cent of green spaces in England and Wales will be of Green Flag standard – a staggering 15,000 sites.