Country park among UK’S most popular following public vote
MARGAM Country Park has been voted among the top 10 most popular parks and green spaces in Britain following a public vote – the only one in Wales to get the accolade.
The rating comes after a Uk-wide People’s Vote organised by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy to find the country’s 10 best Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces.
The award scheme is the annual international quality standard for parks and green spaces.
Following this year’s awards, in which Margam Country Park was once again the recipient of a prestigious Green Flag, members of the public were invited to take part in the People’s Choice vote for their favourite park with tens of thousands joining in.
Margam Country Park emerged as the only park in Wales to be voted into the country’s top 10. It follows a similar outcome in last year’s People’s Choice vote in which Margam also made it into the UK’S prestigious top 10 parks and green spaces list.
Since the start of the pandemic, parks have played an important role for communities the length and breadth of the UK. Research conducted by Keep Britain Tidy earlier in the year showed that more than nine in 10 people (93%) think that parks and green spaces are extremely important to their local community.
Now, those communities have spoken with the announcement of the winners in the 2021 People’s Choice Awards, the voting for which was held in October.
Cllr Peter Rees, Neath Port Talbot Council’s cabinet member for education, skills and culture, said: “Thanks to the tireless work of our amazing staff
Thanks to the tireless work of our amazing staff and volunteers, Margam Country Park is a great place for recreation, sports, play, and relaxation and has yet again been shown, by a public vote, to be one of the very best in Britain Cllr Peter Rees
and volunteers, Margam Country Park is a great place for recreation, sports, play, and relaxation and has yet again been shown, by a public vote, to be one of the very best in Britain. “I’d like to thank everyone who voted for Margam Park and I am delighted it has once again been recognised in the Green Flag People’s Choice Awards. The park is such an important landmark both for our local residents and visitors and this award shows just how much people value it.” Joining Margam Park in the People’s Choice 10 most popular parks and green spaces are: ■ Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets ■ Cassiobury Park, Watford ■ Eoropie Park, Isle of Lewis ■ Strathaven Park, South Lanarkshire ■ University of Essex Wivenhoe Park, Colchester ■ Valentines Park, Ilford ■ Warley Woods, Smethwick ■ Telford Town Park, Telford ■ National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire International Green Flag Award manager Paul Todd said: “Congratulations to our 10 worthy winners. The Green Flag Award includes some of the country’s best-known and iconic parks as well as community green spaces and university campuses. To be voted one of the nation’s favourite parks is a real achievement and testament to all the hard work done by parks staff and volunteers up and down the country who work tirelessly to make their parks fantastic places everyone can enjoy.”