Park life

Awards for greener spaces in towns

We’re getting better at valuing green space - and the Civic Trust is getting better at handing out Green Flag Awards to parks that look after it well. This year you can choose between 182 green flagged town centre parks, recreation grounds, formal gardens, country parks, nature reserves or woodlands (57 more than in 2002), all of which have achieved the recognised standard in park management and contribution to quality of life. Almost a third of them are in the north west. Karen Lewis, the Green Flag Award manager, believes that people are becoming more aware of the value of good green spaces “for quality of life and civic pride”. A sister award, the Green Pennant, for green spaces run by community or voluntary groups, has been running for two years and the number of awards is on the up here too - for schemes including reclaimed waste ground, a restored glass house and a city farm. - Kath Stathers

28 January 2004

Kath Stathers