More Green Flag joy for Strathaven Park Space scoops fourth award in four years
One of the men behind Strathaven Park’s latest top award has described it as amongst the best park’s in the UK.
Bob Wellcoat from the ‘Friends of Strathaven Park’ community group was delighted after the Avondale park was award a fourth Green Flag award in four years.
Strathaven Park is one of just three to be recognised in South Lanarkshire, alongside Cambuslang Park and Castlebank Park.
All parks are assessed by volunteer judges with a background in park management, conservation or ecology.
Bob was delighted to be able to fly the flag in the park again and thanked everyone for their time on working towards the prize.
He said: “Keep Scotland Beautiful is the independent charity which is committed to making Scotland clean and green.
“They are involved in many programmes to help and encourage the development of green spaces for the population to enjoy, one such project was to bring the Green Flag to Strathaven Park. The Green Flag Award Scheme, which is led by Keep Britain Tidy and overseen by Keep Scotland Beautiful, was to run for five years,from 2012-2018.
“South Lanarkshire Council appointed Gerard Devaney a Landscape & Environment Officer to set up a group of parks and leisure employees which also included a few members from Strathaven community groups.
“From which a five year Management plan was formed to improve and enhance the use of the park in many ways for the community to enjoy.
“Through a lot of hard work from the park management and staff and after a very strict guidelines the final plan was submitted and subsequent desk assessment and field judging to ensure all criteria had been met, independent judges from Keep Scotland Beautiful awarded the park its first Green Flag in July 2013. Each year since then the management plan has been updated and submitted to the great result that we achieved the Green Flag Award every year since and now, through the parks staff ’s hard work, they have achieved the 2016/17 award.
“Thanks to Gerry, the park manager and all his staff this park has been voted the best in Scotland and will continue to be voted one of the best parks in the UK.”