Britain's top ten Green Flag parks

[RobinP]

Here are the results:

1 Queen’s Park, Heywood, Rochdale
2 Durlston Country Park, Swanage, Dorset
3 Hare Hill Park, Littleborough, Rochdale
4 Bill Quay Community Farm, Pelaw, Gateshead
5 Lurgan Public Park, Craigavon, Northern Ireland
6 Ogden Water Country Park, Calderdale
7 Highdown Gardens, Worthing
8 Spa Gardens, Harrogate
9 Thorpe Road Cemetery, Horden, County Durham
10 Mile End Park, East London

Well done to Durlston CP, my favourite place in this country

Robin

[Ukwildlifeo]

While Im sure these parks are great, I have my doubts about the standard of some green flag parks.

One I know of were cutting down and back trees in April, strimming native bluebells and woodland edge vegetation to widen and already wide enough path as well as mowing meadows in June/July every year and not mowing one that was over growing with scrub for years!

[Deb London]

I didn't know what the Green Flag award entailed, so I looked it up.

Green Flag Award®

The Green Flag Award® scheme is the benchmark national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales.

It was first launched in 1996 to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. The first awards were given in 1997 and, many years later, it continues to provide the benchmark against which our parks and green spaces are measured. It is also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve high environmental standards, setting a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.

Entries for the Green Flag Award® are open to parks/green spaces located in England and Wales. We are also currently piloting the scheme in Scotland, Northern Ireland and The Netherlands.

Eight key criteria
1. A welcoming place


When approaching or entering the park/green space, the overall impression for any member of the community - regardless of the purpose of their visit - should be positive and inviting. There should be:
• Good and safe access
• Good signage to and in the park/green space
• Equal access for all members of the community

2. Healthy, safe and secure


The park/green space must be a healthy, safe and secure place for all members of the community to use. Any issues that have come to light must be addressed in the management plan and implemented on the ground. New issues that arise must be addressed promptly and appropriately.
• Equipment and facilities must be safe to use
• It must be a secure place for all members of the community to use or traverse
• Dog fouling must be adequately addressed
• Health and safety policies should be in place, in practice and regularly reviewed
• Toilets, drinking water, first aid, public telephones and emergency equipment where relevant (e.g. life belts by water) should be available in or near the park/green space, and be clearly signposted.


3. Clean and well maintained


For aesthetic as well as health and safety reasons, issues of cleanliness and maintenance must be adequately addressed, in particular:
• Litter and other waste management
• The maintenance of grounds, buildings, equipment and other features
• A policy on litter, vandalism and maintenance should be in place, in practice and regularly reviewed.


4. Sustainability


Methods used in maintaining the park/green space and its facilities should be environmentally sound, relying on best practices available according to current knowledge. Management should be aware of the range of techniques available to them, and demonstrate that informed choices have been made and are regularly reviewed. Parks/green spaces should:
• Have an environmental policy or charter and management strategy in place, which is in practice and regularly reviewed
• Minimise and justify pesticide use
• Eliminate horticultural peat use
• Recycle waste plant material
• Demonstrate high horticultural and arboricultural standards
• Have energy conservation, pollution reduction, waste recycling, and resource conservation measures


5. Conservation and heritage


Particular attention should be paid to the conservation and appropriate management of:
• Natural features, wildlife and fauna
• Landscapes
• Buildings and structural features
• These should serve their function well without placing undue pressure on the surrounding environment


6. Community involvement


The park/green space management should actively pursue the involvement of members of the community who represent as many park/green space user groups as possible. The following should be demonstrated:
• Knowledge of user community and levels and patterns of use
• Evidence of community involvement in management and/or developments and results achieved
• Appropriate levels of provision of recreational facilities for all sectors of the community


7. Marketing


• A marketing strategy should be in place, which is in practice and regularly reviewed
• There should be good provision of information to users, e.g. about management strategies, activities, features, ways to get involved
• The park/green space should be promoted as a community resource


8. Management


• A management plan or strategy should be in place which reflects the aspirations of Local Agenda 21
• This should clearly and adequately address all of the above criteria and any other relevant aspects of the park/green space’s management
• The plan must be actively implemented and regularly reviewed
• A financially sound management of the park/green space must also be demonstrated

Very little there to do with wildlife, but I guess they can make what little there is count for something.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

While Im sure these parks are great, I have my doubts about the standard of some green flag parks.

One I know of were cutting down and back trees in April, strimming native bluebells and woodland edge vegetation to widen and already wide enough path as well as mowing meadows in June/July every year and not mowing one that was over growing with scrub for years!

No wonder birds struggle to breed in some areas when this moronic habitat management occurs.

[captaincarot]

well queens park is a very well manicured place with brass band concerts, though nothing related to wild life and t'other one near rochdale actually has some wildlife but it's far too well manicured for my liking.

having lived in rochdale for 4 years previously neither of them are places that i would have gone too for a day out birding, instead i'd have gone to the scruffy one accross the road from my house which doesn't figure in this list.

[RobinP]

I only know Durlston which is a magical place on the cliff tops of Dorset, home to lots of breeding seabirds, various mammals and lots of orchids and insects in the summer. It is superbly managed and has none of the manicured look of most parks, check their website and facebook pages for local sightings, one of the few places you can see dolphins from during the summer months. The only downside is the number of dog walkers that use the place but generally they behave themselves and their pooches.

Robin

[Adam Cheeseman]

I've seen some pretty rough holes with a green flag flying over it.