Triple success for local parks in Green Flag Awards
With parks providing the perfect location for families during the
school holidays, Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park, Perth, Larghan Park,
Coupar Angus and Victoria Park, Aberfeldy have been recognised as
three of the country's best green spaces with a prestigious Green
Flag Award.
Green Flag Awards recognise and reward the best parks in the
country and Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park, Larghan Park and Victoria
Park stood out after impressing the judges with their excellent use
of green space, well-maintained facilities and high standard of
safety and security.
This year has seen the highest number of awards handed out - a
record 1200 Green Flags and Green Pennants across the UK compared
to 1,013 in 2009. Green Pennants are awarded to parks or green
spaces managed by a community or voluntary group.
Only green spaces that are free to enter and open to the public are
eligible to win an award through the scheme, which is run by
environmental charities Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace.
Perth & Kinross Council's Environment Convener, Councillor Alan
Grant welcomed the announcement of the awards:
"This is fantastic news for Perth and Kinross. Retaining Green Flag
status for Kinnoull Hill Woodland Park and Larghan Park, and brand
new accreditation for Victoria Park is a real accolade for the work
done to maintain and improve our local open spaces. We are always
striving to improve park provision in Perth and Kinross and these
awards continue to highlight the significance we place on high
quality, safe and welcoming green spaces."
Paul Todd, Manager, Green Flag Award Scheme, said:
"It's a remarkable achievement that so many parks have successfully
reached Green Flag Award status this year. The staff running the
parks work very hard throughout the year to ensure their facilities
are maintained to a high standard and enjoyed by the entire
community.
"As the recession bites and people look closer to home to enjoy the
outdoors, the provision of high-quality, free open spaces is of
particular importance."
The awards come at a very appropriate time as the national "Love
Parks" week organised by GreenSpace is currently underway (24th
July-1st August), during which people are being encouraged to enjoy
the nation's parks and green spaces.
