Green Flag Awards for Bristol parks

Eleven Bristol parks are raising the Green Flag Award of excellence yesterday (Tuesday, July 17, 2012).

Three new winners this year are Canford Park, Greville Smyth Park and Redcatch Park. Eight Parks - Ashton Court and Blaise Castle Estates, The Downs, Netham Park, St Paul’s Park, Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve, Queen Square and St Andrews Park - have all successfully retain their Green Flag awards.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The aim of the award is to encourage local authorities to work with local communities and parks groups to achieve high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status for each site.

Councillor Gary Hopkins, Bristol’s executive member for environment and community safety, says: “The 11 Green Flags for Bristol parks are testament to the excellent partnership work that takes place between the council, our contractors and parks groups across the city.

“The city council has invested in its parks and open spaces because we recognise and value the many benefits a quality park with good facilities and an effective management plan in place can bring to our communities. Our recent announcement to invest even more into our parks, particularly on improving play facilities is further evidence of our commitment to parks and local communities.

“This year for the first time, we are seeing parks in south Bristol achieving Green Flag status. Official, national recognition that our parks across the city are reaching – and maintaining – the highest standards is certainly something to celebrate.”

Sue Davies, Chair of the Friends of Redcatch Park, added: "It has taken a lot of hard work by everyone, Friends of Redcatch with Bristol City Council Parks, Quadron, Knowle East Youth Project, our users, our dog walkers and the wider local community have been working in partnership together to bring Redcatch to this standard and make it one of the best parks in the city."

· Bristol first entered the prestigious Green Flag Awards in 2007. The Downs and Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve both won in that year and have successfully, year-on-year retained their Green Flag status.