Green flag raising in Bushey

A park in Hertsmere is flying the flag for outstanding green spaces after winning the prestigious green flag award – the national standard for parks and green spaces.

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Martin Saunders, will be raising the flag at King George Recreation Ground, Bushey on Tuesday 6 March, making it the eight consecutive year the park has received the Green Flag accolade.

The eight criteria that Green Flag Award judges assess are:

• A welcoming place
• Healthy, safe and secure
• Well maintained and clean
• Sustainability
• Conservation and heritage
• Community involvement
• Marketing
• Management

Hilary Shade, Head of Asset Management, said: "We are enormously proud of the parks in the borough. This award confirms King George Recreation Ground is amongst the finest in the country and that we are able to maintain excellent standards achieved in our parks.

"I would particularly like to thank the Friends of King George Recreation Ground, our staff and contractors for this achievement and for all their work throughout the year.”

After the ceremony the Friends of King George Recreation Ground will be unveiling their Millennium Tree Seat, designed and forged by Stephen Rook, a master blacksmith from Newlyn Forge, Bushey. Following the unveiling, Cllr Derrick Gunasekera, portfolio holder for culture, will also be making a short tribute to Roberto Solicari, co-owner of La Dolce Vita Café, who died suddenly last year. Roberto was a real character who loved the park and is sadly missed by all those who visited La Dolce Vita Café.

The Green Flag Award scheme is the national standard for parks and green spaces. The scheme recognises the value of green spaces in communities, particularly urban environments, and rewards excellent standards of park management.

Note to editors:
The group (who) are meeting at the flagpole at 12.30pm to raise the flag. After the flag raising a ‘Friends’ millennium tree seat will be unveiled and there will be a short tribute to Roberto Solicari and then refreshments in the Bushey Bowling Clubhouse.

Everyone who uses and enjoys King George Recreation Ground is invited to join us on the day – please contact the parks department on freephone 0800 731 1810 or via email: parks@hertsmere.gov.uk if you wish to join the group for refreshments.