Shropshire parks recognised among the country’s finest with Green Flag Awards
Several parks across Shropshire have today been recognised with Green Flag Awards.
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.
Severn Valley Country Park, The Mere, Apley Woods Local Nature Reserve, Bowring Park, Dale End Park, Dawley Park, Hartshill Park and Telford Town Park are included on this year’s list.
A Community Green Flag has also been awarded to the Friends of Stanmore Country Park.
Today’s announcement sees Severn Valley Country Park near Alveley maintain a 20-year run of success, and The Mere in Ellesmere its tenth successive Green Flag Award.
Robert Macey, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and digital, said:
“Sometimes it is all too easy to take for granted our beautiful Shropshire countryside, but awards such as this serve as a great reminder of the hard work and effort that goes into maintaining our country parks.
“The staff and volunteers across all three sites should be immensely proud of themselves, as we are. Shropshire Council is delighted to include award-winning country parks in its portfolio.
“As the summer holidays begin it is worth considering exploring our parks as a fun, free and healthy day out.”
Cllr Carolyn Healy (Lab), Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for climate action, green spaces, heritage and leisure, said:
“To rack up six Green Flag-winning parks for Telford and Wrekin is absolutely fantastic news and a real testament to all the hard work that our council teams put in, with the invaluable support of volunteers from the many ‘Friends’ groups who help to keep these spaces looking so attractive.”
“Over the last couple of years, we’ve invested in enhancing both Bowring Park and Apley Woods as part of our On Your Side funding programme, so I’m delighted to see them both recognised in the Green Flag awards.
“By working closely with our community, we’re delivering even better parks for our residents.”
Telford Town Park was the first of the borough’s parks to receive a Green Flag award back in 2015 and has maintained its status ever since.
Chris Pettman, Chair of Friends of Telford Town Park, said:
“We’ve had the Green Flag for Telford Town Park for several years now and hopefully we’ll hold it for years to come. It’s important for tourism – it does help to attract people from outside the borough to come to the park and enjoy all its facilities.
“I’d like to say thank you to all the members of our Friends of Telford Town Park group for what they do each year.”
Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved at the Shropshire country parks in achieving a Green Flag Award.
“They are a vital green space for the community, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that they maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.
