Five awards for our parks

Five of Hertsmere's parks are simply fabulous, and that's official!

Deputy Mayor Cllr Knell and Cllr Jean Heywood with one of the Green Flags - Cllr Knell officially raised it at Oakmere Park in Potters Bar today along with other councils up and down the country as part of a national flag raising day.

For the second year running, five of the borough's parks have been nationally recognised as quality green spaces.  Aberford Park in Borehamwood secured a Green Flag Award for the third year and King George Recreation Ground in Bushey for the 12th year.  In Potters Bar, both Parkfield and Oakmere Park gained flags - Oakmere held the flag from 2002 to 2007 but missed out in 2008 before re-claiming it in 2009, while Parkfield has now been awarded it for two years running.

Fishers Field Nature Reserve in Bushey also received a Green Pennant Award for the second year running.  This award is for green spaces that are managed by voluntary and community groups.  The reserve is managed by the Friends of Fishers Field with the support of the council and Countryside Management Service.

Councillor Jean Heywood, Environment Portfolio Holder with responsibility for parks, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to get five awards again this year and have worked very hard at maintaining the high standards needed in order to hold on to these prestigious awards.

"The awards recognise the hard work and dedication of our parks officers, ground maintenance team at John O'Conner and friends groups who work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure the parks are clean, safe and welcoming.  But it is also thanks to the people who use the parks who take pride in them too, by using litter bins and clearing up after their dogs - this really makes a difference." 

All five parks offer a wide range of recreational activities to local people of all ages and are free.

Cllr Heywood added: "Thanks go to Borehamwood Four Parks Friends Association, Friends of King George Recreation Ground, Friends of Fishers Field and Friends of Potters Bar Parks who all volunteer their time to make the parks a special place to visit."

If you visit one of our parks, please use the bins provided and if you are walking your dog, please be responsible and pick up after it.

The annual Green Flag Award scheme is run by Keep Britain Tidy in partnership with BTCV and Greenspace.