Parks fly the flag for green glory

GREEN flags have been raised in eight parks and green spaces across the borough.

The prestigious flags are a mark of excellence, awarded to parks or areas that boast the highest possible environmental standards, are beautifully maintained and have excellent visitor facilities.

The flags were awarded in July this year, when the borough picked up its highest number to date, with two new parks Jubilee in Middleton and Hopwood in Heywood achieving the status for the first time.

Flags were raised by councillors, with members of the council’s environmental management team and volunteers from the Friends groups.

Coun Neil Emmott, the council’s cabinet member for housing and environment, said: “We were delighted to receive eight Green Flag Awards this year, two more than last year, despite times of austerity. This is testament to how hard our staff and volunteers work to maintain our parks and green spaces to such a high standard and reflects our commitment to creating a cleaner, greener borough for our residents to enjoy.”

International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd added: “Each flag is a celebration of the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The six other Green Flag parks are: Springfield; Rochdale Memorial Gardens; Broadfield; Milnrow Memorial; Hare Hill in Littleborough;. Truffet Park Middleton and Middleton Cemetery. ●●Councillors John Hartley and Ann Stott with staff and Friends Group at Hare Hill Park following the park’s green flag award