LOCATIONS across Wirral have reached the high standards required to receive a coveted Green Flag Award in 2023.
The Green Flag Awards, started 27 years ago, are an international quality mark for parks and green spaces and are a testament to the hard work of Wirral Council’s parks and countryside teams, Friends groups and volunteers. 29 of Wirral’s parks will be raising their 2022/3 Green Flag.
For the first year running, Wirral Country Park has also been awarded a Green Heritage Flag, joining Birkenhead Park in its achievements for the management of the parks’ historic features. Green Heritage Flags are supported by Historic England.
In addition, Wirral’s New Ferry Butterfly Park, managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust, and Woodchurch Holy Cross, managed by Holy Cross Woodchurch PCC, have been awarded the Green Flag Community Award, bringing the total awards in Wirral to 33.
Cllr Liz Grey, Chair of the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee, said: "What an honour it is for Wirral to achieve 33 Green Flag Awards, including Wirral Country Park receiving their first Green Heritage Flag – this helps to recognise all the work that is being done in this area and with the award being given in the park’s Anniversary year, it makes it all the more special.
"Awards, particularly ones as prestigious as these, really celebrate the continual work and effort put in by those who look after these recognised sites. It is the work of our Friends groups, volunteers and council staff that make awards like this possible but that also help to keep our parks and green spaces a wonderful and welcoming place for residents and all those that want to visit them.
"I would like to extend my thanks and offer my congratulations to all those involved."
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said: "I would like to congratulate everyone involved in helping Wirral to achieve 33 Green Flag Awards.
"These parks and spaces are vital green space for the communities of Wirral, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles.
"The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement."
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
The successful parks in Wirral are:
- Ashton Park Wirral Council
- Bidston Hill Wirral Council
- Birkenhead Park
- Brotherton Park and Dibbinsdale Local Nature Reserve
- Central Park (Wirral)
- Coronation Gardens
- Dawstone Park
- Eastham Country Park
- Flaybrick Memorial Gardens
- Frankby Cemetery
- Hamilton Square
- Harrison Park Wirral
- Heswall Dales
- Hilbre Island Local Nature Reserve
- Landican Cemetery
- Mayer Park
- Meols Parade Gardens
- North Wirral Coastal Park
- Queen's Park (Wirral)
- Rake Lane Cemetery
- Royden Park
- The Arno
- The Breck
- Thornton Hough Village Green
- Torr Park Eastham
- Vale Park
- Victoria Gardens (West Kirby)
- Walker Park
- Wirral Country Park
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