Hyndburn Celebrates Record-Breaking 11 Green Flag Awarded Parks and Green Spaces in 2024
Hyndburn Celebrates Record-Breaking 11 Green Flag Awarded Parks and Green Spaces in 2024
Hyndburn Borough Council today received the exciting news that they have not only retained their Green Flag Award status for 10 parks but have also added a new location to their impressive roster. Following the national 2024/25 Green Flag Award announcement, Hyndburn now boasts 11 Green Flag Awarded parks and green spaces, setting a new record for the highest number of any district in Lancashire.
The newest addition to the list is Memorial Park in Great Harwood, which achieved the Green Flag Award after significant investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Hyndburn Borough Council, and the Lancashire Environment Fund. This success is down to the dedication and support of many organisations and local people. A grant of £247,450 from the Heritage Fund, made possible by National Lottery players, contributed to the improvements to Memorial Park and enabled Hyndburn Borough Council to honour the park’s historical significance and provide a tranquil setting for remembrance.
The Green Flag Award is an international quality mark for parks and green spaces, recognising and rewarding well-managed areas. It sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the UK and around the world. The scheme aims to ensure that everyone has access to quality green spaces, promote good management practices, and recognise the hard work of managers, staff, and volunteers.
Councillor Kimberley Whitehead Portfolio Holder for Parks and Open Spaces, said:
“This achievement is a testament to our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality green spaces for our residents. The addition of Memorial Park to our Green Flag roster demonstrates that all the investment in green spaces is paying off. We’re proud to offer 11 internationally recognised parks that contribute to community well-being, health, and environmental conservation.”
The 11 award-winning parks and green spaces in Hyndburn are: Milnshaw Park, Oak Hill Park, Peel Park, Rhyddings Park, Gatty Park, Cutwood Park, Lowerfold Park, Mercer Park, Wilsons and Woodlands, Accrington Cemetery and Crematorium, and the newly added Memorial Park in Great Harwood.
Ian Wilkinson, Chair of the Friends of Memorial Park, expressed his pride in the park’s first-ever Green Flag Award:
This is a momentous achievement for Memorial Park and the entire Great Harwood community. The Green Flag Award is a testament to the tireless efforts of our Friends group during the past twenty years, working hand in hand with the Council and various organisations including local schools. It’s been a true collaborative effort, and we’re thrilled to see our beloved park recognised at this level. So much work has gone into enhancing Memorial Park by all concerned. You can find more information about this on our new website https://greatharwoodfomp.co.uk”
Cath Holmes, Chair of Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, commented:
t’s wonderful that Memorial Park has achieved a Green Flag. It’s a much loved and cared for park, and the recent renovations have really added to the parks appeal and biodiversity. Many congratulations to the Friends of Memorial Park volunteers and the Council’s parks team. The year-round dedication and efforts in managing the Borough’s parks and open spaces to such high standards are truly commendable. We’re especially proud of the community effort that has gone into securing 11 Green Flags for the borough.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, added:
“Memorial Park is a vital green space for communities in Great Harwood to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.
We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.
It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 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.”
Hyndburn Borough Council encourages all residents to explore and enjoy these award-winning green spaces throughout 2024/25, where the Green Flags will be proudly displayed as a symbol of excellence in park management and community engagement.
Residents can find their nearest park on our website here https://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/parks/
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Green Flag Award Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.
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 Award status. A Green Flag Community 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.
Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We set the standard for the management of parks and beaches, inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and live more sustainably. We run campaigns and programmes including the Great British Spring Clean, Eco-Schools, Love Parks Week, Buy Nothing New Month, Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces, the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches and blue spaces, and the Green Key for sustainable tourism and hospitality. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our campaigns and programmes visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
heritagefund.org.uk
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
Main Image
Green Flag presentation at Memorial Park, Great Harwood.
Pictured:
Jamie Parkin (Skilled Gardner, Hyndburn Council), Rachael Gildert (Proffitts – Investing in Communities), Aidy Whitehead (Skilled Gardner, Hyndburn Council), Martin Proffitt (Proffitts – Investing in Communities), Councillor Kimberley Whitehead (Portfolio Holder for Parks and Open Spaces and member of Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum), Ian Wilkinson (Chair of Friends of Memorial Park), Councillor Scott Brerton (Ward Councillor for Overton) and Brandon Cherry (Prospects Foundation).
Secondary Images
Green Flags at Oak Hill and Peel Park.