Five Land Trust sites awarded Green Flag status

Five Land Trust sites have received Green Flag status today, as a record number of parks and green spaces received the award.

Elba Park, Silverdale Country Park, Beam Parklands, Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park and the Countess of Chester Country Park were all included in this year’s list, with Silverdale awarded the Green Flag for the second year running, and Elba retaining its status for the sixth year in succession, with 1,883 sites receiving the status.

The prestigious award recognises good management of green space, as well as the hard work of the managers, staff and volunteers. It recognises that the sites provide access to good quality green spaces and that they meet the needs of the community they serve.

Alan Carter, Director of Portfolio Management at the Land Trust, said:

“We are delighted that five of our sites have been recognised for their continued excellence and benefits to the communities that surround them.

“On all of our sites, we aim to provide well-managed green space, which people can use for health, leisure and educational activities, and where wildlife and biodiversity can thrive.

“Research shows that spending more time outdoors improves both mental and physical health and wellbeing, so to have the flag proudly encouraging more people to use our spaces is fantastic.

“I’d also like to thank all of the volunteers and rangers who work so hard to improve the spaces for the wildlife and the communities. They are an asset to the sites and it’s great to see their achievements recognised in this way.”

Receiving Green Flag status means the sites are now internationally recognised as quality, well-managed green space. In the past, the award has been known to improve health and education, reduce crime and improve the general cleanliness of an area.

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said,

“It has been a record-breaking year for Green Flag Awards, and it’s fantastic to see such a diverse range of locations have been recognised. We are proud to have so many wonderful green spaces in the UK for people to experience, and encourage the public to head outdoors, explore their local area and find even more unexpected green spaces they can enjoy.”