This week, a number of parks and green spaces in Trafford are taking home a Green Flag Award.
An incredible 11 parks across Trafford have been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as the very best in the world. The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.
The 11 award winning parks are Davyhulme Park, Denzell Gardens, Flixton Gardens, Hullard Park, John Leigh Park, Lostock Park, Victoria Park, Walkden Gardens, Walton Park, Woodheys Park and Worthington Park.
Trafford Green Flag Award Parks are managed by the One Trafford green space and ground maintenance teams, with the support of volunteer Friends of Parks groups. The teams have been working together to ensure the Green Flag standards are met and are consistent throughout the year.
Trafford’s Green Flag parks have met the specific set of criteria, achieving a high standard. Criteria includes important features such as aesthetics of the park, horticulture and biodiversity. Over the last three years, One Trafford have been working with Friends of Parks groups to create better habitats for pollinators and insects in a number of Green Flag parks; this will help to increase biodiversity within green spaces. Thousands of perennial bulbs such as native daffodils, crocus and snowdrops have been planted at John Leigh Park, Victoria Park, Walton Parks and Worthington Park. Similarly, some parks now have wildflower meadows and beds, which are helping to provide stepping-stones of habitats across the borough.
The parks are among over 2,000 UK parks and green spaces that will receive a Green Flag Award for 2020. The award, accompanied by the famous flag, is a mark of a quality park or green space.
Executive Member for Culture and Leisure, Councillor Liz Patel said: “We are so incredibly proud to be celebrating this achievement of 11 Green Flag Awards for the second year in a row. Our green space, ground maintenance and dedicated Friends of Parks volunteers have been working hard to continue maintaining Trafford’s parks to a high standard. This year in particular, our teams have persevered in managing green spaces whilst up against the subsequent effects of the Coronavirus.”
“Whilst more and more of us are staying home to keep everyone safe, our parks and green spaces continue to provide much needed safe respite and fresh air to Trafford’s park users. We’re delighted to be able to provide 11 of the very best parks in the world to residents here in Trafford.”
Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.
“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with high numbers of visitors, Trafford has achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”
If you would like to visit your local Green Flag park, please visit www.trafford.gov.uk/GreenFlagParks.