FIVE of Rugby borough’s parks have retained prestigious Green Flag Awards.
Caldecott Park, Newbold’s Centenary Park and Millennium Green have all retained Green Flag Awards, while New Bilton’s Jubilee Recreation Ground and the ‘pocket park’ at Gladstone Green held on to Green Flag Community Awards.
Caldecott Park has now retained its Green Flag status for an 18th year, while Centenary Park has achieved ten awards on the trot.
Millennium Green has now secured Green Flag status for nine years in a row, while Gladstone Green retained its Green Flag Community Award for a ninth year, with Jubilee Recreation Ground keeping its community award for a fourth year.
Green Flag is the international benchmark for quality parks and open spaces, promoting well-managed and well-maintained parks and facilities. Judges assess nominated parks against ten criteria, including horticultural standards, sustainability, cleanliness and community involvement.
Green Flag Community Awards recognise parks and green spaces which play a part in bringing communities together.
Both community awards were reward for the hard work of New Bilton Community Association, which has worked with the council to develop Gladstone Green and Jubilee Recreation Ground.
The pollinator-friendly partnership has borne fruit, with volunteers and residents supporting a community orchard and community growing projects, which harvest a variety of fruit, vegetables and herbs throughout the year.
Sheela Hammond, chair of New Bilton Community Association, said: “We’re proud to have been awarded our Green Flags as we have invested volunteer time, effort and money in our community projects in New Bilton.
“Every year is a school year as far as learning to plant with the rhythms of unseasonal changes – all challenging and fun – and we’re still learning, still experimenting and still planting.”
Cllr Maggie O’Rourke, Rugby Borough Council’s spokesperson for partnerships and wellbeing, praised the hard work and dedication of the council’s teams, volunteers and residents who all played a part in the town’s Green Flag success.
She added: “The Green Flag Awards set the standard for high-quality parks and open spaces, so to have five parks ranked amongst the best in the country is an achievement we can all be proud of.”
Her Liberal Democrat counterpart Coun Neil Sandison said: “This handful of excellent parks are leading the way in raising the standard of parks across the borough.
“We’re seeing an increase in community-led involvement in our local parks and open spaces, and the Green Flag Awards give our council teams and volunteers a goal to aspire to.”
