Park leaves others green with envy
Another win for Strathaven
Strathaven Park has been named in the top 10 People’s Choice awards for the ninth year in a row.
It is the only Scottish site on the list which was announced at the recent Best of the Best Green Flag ceremony.
And James Armour from South Lanarkshire Council, who works at the park, was named as a joint winner of Employee of the Year.
It is the ninth year in a row that the people who value the dear green place have voted for Strathaven Park to be recognised – and with more than 21,000 members of the public casting their vote for over 2000 Green Flag Award-winning parks and open spaces across the UK, it is a true reflection of the community’s connection to Strathaven Park that they were placed in the top ten once again.
James was crowned for his commitment to ensuring the park is one of the public’s favourites.
He is the friendly, helpful, approachable face of the park, and as the only full-time employee at the venue is therefore the “go to” person for all park users, including the friends’ group, boating club, model railway group, tennis club members, local groups, dog walkers and many school and nursery groups that visit. His role includes summer maintenance tasks, grass cutting, flower displays, upkeep of path network, shrub and hedge pruning to winter grounds tasks, general pruning, splitting and replanting herbaceous beds.
Additionally, James also maintains the orchard and helps various groups with the food-growing raised beds, offering advice and his time. James also maintains the bowling green in the park, and lines the football pitches for every game. Alongside this, he cuts the putting green and tends the sensory garden and boating pond.
John Crawford, amenity services officer at South Lanarkshire Council, “The impact James has made in the park is clear to see. He uses his horticultural knowledge to tend to the herbaceous borders, splitting them in winter to give plants to fill gaps, gaining enough planting material to create new pockets or enhance existing areas.
“The bowling green, putting green and football pitches have all improved since James arrived, bringing his greenkeeper knowledge with him. He has also planted wildflower meadows to encourage pollinators and other
wildlife, while reducing the carbon footprint of the mowers.
“Although he is undoubtedly busy, James is never too busy to acknowledge any park visitor, whether it is with advice or simply a friendly smile. All of this James does with a great level of professionalism, integrity, and pride, and he must be credited as the one defining factor in Strathaven Park securing Green Flag Award status over the years, and achieving the top ten in People’s Choice, usually the only Scottish park, for so many years.”
Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful presents Green Flag Awards, under license from Keep Britain Tidy. It supports park managers and communities to manage and improve green and open spaces and makes an annual award – the Green Flag – to almost 90 Scottish parks and green spaces that demonstrate excellent management and environmental standards.
Jamie Ormiston, senior awards officer at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said: “It is wonderful to see the staff and volunteers of some of Scotland’s parks get the national recognition they deserve.
“There are many inspiring projects going on across the country to improve access to Scotland’s green spaces and adapt to the climate, nature and litter emergencies and it’s a privilege to be able to celebrate just some of these through the Green Flag Award Best of the Best and People’s Choice.
“We encourage anyone working or volunteering in a green space to consider the Green Flag Award as not only a way to highlight excellent standards but also to gain advice and support from a network of inspiring peers through the judging process.”
Research shows that for parks to be able to contribute to improvements in health and wellbeing, they must be accessible, well-managed and maintained, and offer something for everyone within the community.