Four parks make best in UK shortlist
Now online vote to find winner
Crowds enjoying Pitlochry Highland Games on the Recreation Ground
Organised by green space charity Fields in Trust, a total of 364 public nominations for the best parks in the UK were made, including both the North and South Inches in Perth, MacRosty Park in Crieff and Pitlochry Recreation Ground.
Each of the four Perthshire parks were nominated by members of the community and they have now gone to an online public vote to be named the best.
Councillor Angus Forbes, convener of environment and infrastructure at Perth and Kinross Council, said: “We are proud to have four local sites nominated for Fields in Trust’s UK best park 2019 competition - MacRosty Park in Crieff, the North and South Inches in Perth, and Pitlochry Recreation Ground.
“In an area renowned for its attractive countryside, these parks The North Inch. Picture by Angus Findlay
and green spaces are great examples of the value of the outdoors for people of all ages.
“I hope both local residents and visitors who enjoy these sites will go to the Fields in Trust website and vote for them.”
Voting opened on Saturday, July 6, and will close on Monday, August 19. The play park in MacRosty Park in Crieff
The four Perthshire parks will have to battle it out with small community gardens, large nature reserves, sports fields and playgrounds from across the country to be named the best.
Once the votes are tallied up, the parks with the most votes in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales will then be shortlisted for the top prize, which will be announced in mid-September.
Helen Griffiths, chief executive of Fields in Trust, said: “Our parks and green spaces are a vital part of UK community infrastructure.
“We know that they provide benefits to the physical health, mental wellbeing and community connections for people that use them, so we are delighted to see a record number of nominations for the UK’s best park award and it is encouraging to see so many people organising picnics with neighbours to celebrate how much they love their local park.
“Fields in Trust is committed to protecting these valuable and muchloved parks and green spaces for future generations to enjoy.”
To vote for one of the four Perthshire parks, visit www. fieldsintrust.org/best-park/scotland The South Inch. Picture by Leslie Mitchell