Press release -
Bury’s parks celebrate more than a decade of Green Flag Awards
Bury’s main dozen parks will be flying the Green Flag today after more than a decade of winning this national honour.
The 12 parks are:
- Burrs Country Park, Clarence Park, Close Park, Nuttall Park, Openshaw Park, St Mary’s Park, Whitefield Park and Whitehead Park, which have won for the 16th year in a row;
- Manchester Road and Town Meadow parks, flying the flag for the 15th year in a row;
- Bolton Road Park raises the flag for winning 14 years in a row; and
- Hoyles Park for the 11th year.
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Bury’s dozen are among more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2020.
Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, said: ““It’s an amazing achievement, despite ten years of austerity, for Bury’s parks to maintain this quality standard for over a decade, particularly this year when we have been faced with the challenge of the Covid pandemic.
“This is a tribute to the fantastic efforts of our parks and countryside and grounds maintenance teams, and also to the many volunteers, friends of parks groups, community and environmental groups, self-managed clubs and associations who continue to work so hard to help keep the borough such a vibrant, attractive and active place for everyone.
“Parks are at the heart of where we live, helping to make our lives happier and healthier, so it’s no surprise that our communities have needed their parks more than ever during coronavirus.“
Commenting on Bury’s success, Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.
“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of the staff and volunteers involved that, despite this year’s challenges and record numbers of visitors, Bury has achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag award at all 12 main parks across the borough.”
More information about Bury’s main parks is online at www.bury.gov.uk/parks
ENDS
Press release issued: 14 October 2020.
Picture: Burrs Country Park.
Notes to editors
The Green Flag Awards Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, in partnership in the UK with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. The scheme also operates in an additional 14 countries including Portugal, New Zealand and USA.
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 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 free to enter and 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.
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