Parks raise the flag to mark green record
ARECORD number of Rochdale parks and green spaces have picked up Green Flag Awards.
Eight beauty spots have been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as among the best in the UK.
They are among a record-breaking 1,797 UK parks and green spaces that received prestigious Green Flag Awards on Tuesday – the mark of a quality park or green space.
This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
Rochdale memorial gardens, Packer Spout and Broadfield Park, Queen’s Park in Heywood and Hare Hill Park in Littleborough celebrate 10 years of maintaining their prestigious Green Flag status, with Milnrow Memorial Park, Middleton Cemetery and Truffet Park, also in Middleton, close behind.
Jubilee Park in Middleton and Hopwood Park in Heywood have also received Green Flag status for the very first time this year.
Coun Neil Emmott, the council’s cabinet member for housing and environment, said “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for eight of our parks and green spaces. We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, and this award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining our parks to such a high standard.”
Donna Bowler, an assistant director at Rochdale council, added: “We have invested considerable resources into both new Green Flag parks in recent years to bring them up to the high standard required to get a Green Flag Award, including restoring the Exedra heritage feature at Jubilee Park.
“We would like to extend our thanks to the Friends groups who have worked hand in hand with us to achieve two new Green Flag Awards and retain existing awards.
To gain additional Green Flag Awards in times of austerity shows how hard our staff are working to bring about improvements. I would also like to thank all those staff involved and I am sure both staff and community volunteers are rightly proud of their Green Flag Awards.”