Brilliant green spaces honoured at the Land Trust Awards 2016

National land management charity, the Land Trust crowned Phoenix Park as its Site of the Year at its annual awards ceremony.

Rangers from across the country came along to celebrate all that makes green spaces great places, providing a positive difference for the communities they serve, with winners and shortlisted entrants from across the Land Trust’s national portfolio honoured at a special event.

Phoenix Park is a popular woodland park created where the Hickleton Colliery once stood. On behalf of the Land Trust, the Forestry Commission maintains the park on a daily basis, encouraging the community to use this valuable asset.

Judges were impressed with the work of rangers at the park during the past year who have helped the park perform well in reaching its charitable objectives – including health, environment and social cohesion.

Other winners at the awards night included:

• Community Space of the Year – Pleasley, Derbyshire (Highly Commended – Elba Park, County Durham)
• Developing Space for Nature – Silverdale Country Park, Staffordshire and Rabbit Ings, South Yorkshire (Joint Winners)
• Best Space for Nature – Canvey Wick, Essex
• Health Site of the Year – Monkton Community Woodland, Tyneside (Highly Commended – Countess of Chester Country Park)
• Educational Site of the Year – Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park (Highly Commended – Liverpool Festival Gardens)
• Volunteer of the Year – The late Steve Uttley, Pleasley Pit Trust
• Most Improved Space of the Year – Beam Parklands, Essex, and Frickley Country Park, South Yorkshire (Joint Winners) (Highly Commended – Wellesley Woodlands, Hampshire)
• Ranger of the Year – Anne Litherland, Port Sunlight River Park, Wirral (Highly Commended – David Spencer and Michaella Hulley, Frickley and Fryston Country Trails)

Alan Carter, Director of Portfolio Management at the Land Trust, said: “The Land Trust Awards take place each year and provide a great opportunity to shine a light on the fantastic work that goes on our across our parks and green spaces up and down the country.

“This is all about celebrating the work which we do to improve the lives of those who live and work close to our green spaces.”