Issued by City of York Council
York parks are some of the very best in the UK – and that’s official.
Rowntree Park, West Bank Park, Clarence Gardens, Glen Gardens and Rawcliffe Country Park have each been awarded the right to fly the prestigious Green Flag.
The national award, handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country.
A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to visitors that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.
Councillor Sonja Crisp, City of York Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Awards for our sites.
“This award recognises and highlights that people in York are working alongside the council to improve on and benefit from green spaces of the very highest quality.
“A Green Flag Award gives everyone involved in our parks – be they sports clubs, friends of parks, local residents or charities – national recognition for their hard work and dedication to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.
“We will be building on this involvement to encourage our communities to have a greater role in the way parks and open spaces are managed and cared for in the future.
“The council will be providing support and training, to ensure that the community’s parks are developed and maintained to the same high standards in preparation for next year’s judging.”
Expert volunteer judges assess each park on eight different criteria which include the venues being a welcoming, healthy, safe and clean place and sustainability, conservation and community involvement.
For Rowntree Park the award is extra special as it was the first of York’s parks to gain the award and can now boast flying the flag for a consecutive 10 years.
The awards are being celebrated and flags raised in the parks at different times, sometimes included as part of wider event:
- Rawcliffe Country Park, Wednesday 7 August as part of a pirate themed event
- Glen Gardens, Thursday 8 August as part of a bee themed event
- Rowntree Park, Thursday 8 August as part of a pond dipping event
- West Bank Bark, Wednesday 14 August at 4pm
- Clarence Gardens, Monday 19 August at 2.30pm
Residents are welcome to come along and witness the raising of the flags. Anyone interested in volunteering in York’s parks can email operations manager Dave Meigh, or call him on 01904 553386.
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