By Leah Conway –
Kirklees has once again been awarded Green Flags for the districts quality parks and green spaces.
Parks around the district – Beaumont Park, Greenhead Park, Wilton Park, Crow Nest Park, Almondbury Hill Fort, Castle Hill and Oakwell Hall Country Park – have all gained a mark of international quality for parks and green spaces. With Beaumont Park gaining the highest band achievable.
Environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy runs the Green Flag Award Scheme under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The charity recognises and rewards well-managed, free parks and green spaces across the United Kingdom and has international renowned. The annual award scheme is open to any freely accessible green spaces. Once a green flag award with gained winners must continue to apply each year to keep their status.
“Wonderful News”
Councillor Will Simpson, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees, said:
“This is wonderful news and really demonstrates the hard work and commitment of all staff involved during what has been a very difficult couple of years.
“During lockdowns, our parks have been busier than they have ever been. This has meant operational staff on the ground have had to work doubly hard to keep our parks to the high standards we have come to expect. The fact that we have been able to achieve these awards is a credit to them all.
“I really hope our residents continue to enjoy our parks through the colder months of the year and help our parks staff in keeping them in pristine condition.”
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Oakwell Hall gains historical accreditation
As well as being awarded for upkeeping of accessible green space, Oakwell Hall received the Green Heritage Site Accreditation. The additional award is for their upkeep and management of the historical site, with the support of Historic England.
“A Testament to hard work”
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making the parks and green spaces across Kirklees worthy of a Green Flag Award.”
“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure these places have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and are places that support people to live healthy lives.”
