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Joy as parks retain Green Flag Awards

Autumn leaves and trees in Brinton Park

News release issued:

Two Wyre Forest parks are today raising their Green Flag Awards with pride in a year when millions of people have seen the value of having great quality green spaces on their doorstep.

Brinton Park in Kidderminster and Queen Elizabeth II Gardens in Bewdley are among 2,000 parks and open spaces across the country achieving the coveted Green Flag Award status in 2020. 

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Community Protection at Wyre Forest District Council, Councillor Helen Dyke said: “I think this year has left us in no doubt just how important our parks and open spaces are for the health and wellbeing of our residents.

“I’m pleased to say that we are extremely blessed with a wide variety of parks and green spaces here in Wyre Forest which our residents and tourists alike enjoy all year round.

“I’m delighted that both Brinton Park in Kidderminster and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Gardens in Bewdley have retained the impressive Green Flag status for another year running.”

Councillor John Thomas, Cabinet Member for Operational Services: “I would like to thank our parks team who do such an excellent job and are helping to keep our parks among the best in the country – they work very hard keeping all our open spaces in tip top condition and have played their part in us achieving this independent and nationally-recognised quality status.”

Commenting on the district’s successes, Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.

“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, Brinton Park and Queen Elizabeth II Gardens have achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

It’s the second piece of good news for Brinton Park in as many months. In September it was announced that Wyre Forest District Council had secured £2,410,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund to fund an exciting raft of major improvements including a new cafe, an extension to the Sons of Rest Pavilion and the re-instatement of an historic ornamental pool.

Supported through The National Lottery, the project aims to breathe new life into the Victorian park – which was gifted to the town by the famous Brinton carpet manufacturing company.

Brinton Park was put forward because of its unique history and heritage and within Wyre Forest provided the best fit for the stringent funding criteria required by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Green Flag Awards Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, in partnership in the UK with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. The scheme also operates in an additional 14 countries including Portugal, New Zealand and USA.

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We set the standard for the management of parks and beaches, inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and to live more. We run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.

Any green space that is free to enter and accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag Award status. A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups.

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