In celebration of Love Parks week, Test Valley Borough Council is thrilled to share that three of its local green spaces have once again been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award. This international mark of quality is a testament to the exceptional management and upkeep of Rooksbury Mill Local Nature Reserve in Andover, Valley Park Woodlands Local Nature Reserve, and War Memorial Park in Romsey.
The Green Flag Award recognises green spaces that are safe, well-managed, and maintained with the involvement of local communities. It also highlights excellent environmental management practices, including biodiversity support, water reuse, and reduced pesticide use.
Councillor Terese Swain, Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure and Tourism said: “We are very proud of our green spaces in Test Valley, and they are well used by our communities. These three parks have consistently achieved the coveted green flag status for more than ten years and the news that they have achieved it once again this year is testament to the hard work and dedication of the council teams and volunteers that care for them.”
Congratulating this year’s winners, Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: “Prioritising parks and green spaces is vital for our future, so we are delighted to see that 2,227 sites have met the standards required for a Green Flag Award, reflecting the tireless work of those tasked with looking after these important national assets.”
The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by Keep Britain Tidy in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and Keep Scotland Beautiful under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. Find out more at greenflagaward.org
Love Parks is a week-long celebration (July 26 – August 4) highlighting the vital role green spaces play in boosting the health and wellbeing of residents and communities. Organised by Keep Britain Tidy, this week-long event encourages communities across the UK to come together and appreciate the beauty and benefits of their local parks.
