A record number of parks and green spaces have been awarded the coveted Green Park status this year, with Manchester making a sizable contribution to the overall 212 North West winners.
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
The judges assess each area using eight criteria and the Green Flags are given to the sites which fit these:
- A welcoming place
- Healthy, safe and secure
- Well maintained and clean
- Environmental management
- Biodiversity
- landscape and heritage
- Community involvement, Marketing and communication
- Management
Six Manchester parks and cemeteries have been recognised in the latest batch of awards — Heaton Park, Alexandra Park, Blackley, Southern, Gorton and Philips Park cemeteries.
Heaton Park also scooped Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England for the management of its historic features.
In Bolton, Queens Park also received the Green Flag award, while the Salford winners included Agecroft Cemetery, Blackleach Country Park, Boothsbank Park, Clifton Country Park, Parr Fold Park, Peel Green Cemetery, Peel Park, Victoria Park and Winton Park, as well as the University of Salford.
Bury has 12 parks in total included — Burrs Country Park, Clarence Park, Close Park, Nuttall Park, Openshaw Park, St Mary’s Park, Whitefield Park and Whitehead Park make the list for the 18th year, Manchester Road and Town Meadow, for the 17th year, Bolton Road for the 16th year and Hoyles Park for the 13th year.
Over in Rochdale, the big winners were Queen’s Park, Hopwood Park, Middleton Memorial Gardens, Middleton Cemetery, Jubilee Park and Truffet Park, Denehurst Park, Broadfield Park, Rochdale Memorial Gardens, Packer Spout, St Chad’s Gardens, Milnrow Memorial Park and Hare Hill Park.
Davyhulme Park, Denzell Gardens and The Devisdale, Flixton Gardens, Hullard Park, John Leigh Park, Lostock Park, Victoria Park, Walkden Gardens, Walton Park, Woodheys Park and Worthington Park fly the flag for Trafford.
Finally, Wigan boasts four spaces —Alexandra Park in Wigan, Jubilee Park in Ashton and Pennington Hall Park in Leigh all retail their Green Flag for the 14th year in a row, meanwhile, Wigan’s Mesnes Park appears for the seventh year running.
Check out the full list of winners over on the Green Flag website.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Mon 15 Aug 2022
