Parks to fly the Green Flag
Released: 17 July 2008
Two of Wolverhampton’s most popular parks are greener than ever after scooping a prestigious award.
West Park and Bantock Park are among a record 743 green spaces across the country, all freely accessible to the public, to be given a Green Flag Award - the national standard for quality parks and public open spaces.
Winners are judged to be welcoming and well maintained with the support and involvement of the local community.
Inspectors visited West Park and Bantock Park, which are owned and maintained by Wolverhampton City Council, earlier this year and also reviewed their management plans - both must be of a very high standard to receive a Green Flag.
John Pugh, Wolverhampton City Council’s Head of Parks and Contacts, said: “We have worked tremendously hard to make sure that West Park and Bantock Park are among the best green spaces in the country.
“Green Flag status recognises that fact and we are very proud that they have been given this seal of approval.”
West Park, in the heart of the city, is one of England's finest Victorian parks. It boasts a boating lake and collection of waterfowl; a large conservatory containing plants from all over the world; a mature collection of trees and shrubs; beautiful floral displays, Victorian tea rooms and an impressive bandstand.
Bantock Park, around a mile from the centre of the city, covers 43 acres and provides an ideal place for families to relax. It has a children’s play area, putting green, football pitches and plenty of space to walk and play games. It is also a haven for wildlife and even features a sculptured cow, which recalls the days that cattle bred by the Bantock family roamed the grounds.
Councillor Matthew Holdcroft, Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture, said: “I am delighted that Bantock Park and West Park have been awarded Green Flag status, which recognises the efforts of the city council to transform both these spaces into an urban oasis.
“We are very privileged to have parks of this quality in Wolverhampton; visitor attractions which provide so much joy to the residents of, and visitors to, our city.”
This year’s winners will be announced today (Thursday, July 17) from Green Flag Award-winning Bellingham Green, an area of Lewisham, which demonstrates how residents working together with public agencies can transform deprived neighbourhoods, improving both the livelihood and well-being of the local community.
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Application Manager, said: “The increasing number of Green Flag Award winning parks and green spaces highlight the important role they play in bringing people together and improving their quality of life.
“Congratulations to all the management, staff, and in particular, thousands of volunteers whose hard work and dedication has brought this award of excellence.”
Representatives from Wolverhampton City Council will celebrate their achievements and collect their flags at a major ceremony in Liverpool on Thursday, July 24.
Additional information
The Green Flag Award scheme, launched in 1996, is managed by the Civic Trust on behalf of Communities and Local Government and the Green Flag Advisory Board which comprises founders of the scheme, sponsors, winners and judges.
It is sponsored by
- Department for Communities and Local Government
- English Heritage
- Countryside Agency
- English Nature
- Countryside Council for Wales
- Design Commission for Wales
- Environment Agency Wales
- Welsh Assembly Government.
Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award.
Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status.
A Green Pennant Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups.
Green Heritage Site accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s historic features and the standard of conservation.
This year, 72 community-run sites received a Green Pennant Award and 42 Green Flag Award sites achieved Green Heritage Site Accreditation.
The Civic Trust is an independent, national charity, founded in 1957. It works with people to promote thriving towns and villages, developing partnerships between communities, government and business to deliver regeneration and local improvement.
It is the umbrella body for 850 civic societies across the country, representing over 250,000 individuals committed to improving and caring for places where people live and work.
Issued by the press office.