Date issued: 18 July 2019.
The Green Flag Awards, which shine a light on the UK’s very best parks and green spaces, have been announced this week with Colchester Borough Council once again scooping the national award for Castle Park, High Woods Country Park and Colchester Cemetery and Crematorium.
The three sites are among a record-breaking 1,970 UK parks and green spaces and 131 in thirteen other countries around the world, that have received a prestigious Green Flag Award from Keep Britain Tidy – the mark of a quality park or green space.
This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
To be able to fly the prestigious Green Flag, these parks and open spaces are checked regularly throughout the year to ensure they're clean and well maintained, offer a welcoming place to visit, and encourage community involvement.
Castle Park, which has a vision to be the jewel in the crown of Colchester 's Parks and Open Spaces, has also received the much-coveted additional Green Heritage Site Accreditation for the management of the historic features.
Councillor Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Environment and Transportation, said: “I’m delighted that all three sites have once again received Green Flag Awards. These prestigious awards recognise the continuous hard work and dedication that our staff and volunteers put in to maintaining these areas and their facilities to such a high standard all year-round.”
Councillor Gerard Oxford, Portfolio Holder for Customers, said: “These awards celebrate the dedication that goes into maintaining our parks and open spaces to such a high standard, and I’m delighted we have retained the Green Flag status. The cemetery and crematorium site is a community resource, providing a green space for people to take a quiet walk or a moment to think.
“As a working cemetery there are accessible pathways connecting areas which are kept clean and tidy. At the same time, the overwhelming sense is one of a home for wildlife and nature.”
International Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “It’s fantastic that we have more Green Flag Awards in the UK than ever before, joined this year by 131 International winners.”
“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We congratulate each and every winner on their fantastic achievement.”
Further information about Colchester Borough Council’s park and countryside spaces and Colchester Cemetery and Crematorium is available at www.colchester.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: 18 July 2019