Green Flag Award Parks
Information on our Green Flag parks and the award criteria
Green Flag Awards
The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The scheme is run by The Civic Trust and recognises the best green spaces in the country while rewarding excellent standard of park management.
It is also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence.
There are eight criteria which Green Flag Award judges assess parks and open spaces:
- A welcoming place
- Healthy, safe and secure
- Well maintained and clean
- Sustainability
- Conservation and heritage
- Community involvement
- Marketing
- Management
Hertsmere's award winning parks
Six parks managed by Hertsmere Borough Council have been declared as being among the best in the country! Hertsmere received five Green Flag Award winning parks and a Green Flag Community Award in 2011.
King George Recreation Ground in Bushey has won the award for thirteen years in a row. Aberford Park in Borehamwood has won the flag since 2008. In Potters Bar, Oakmere Park has received the award nine times and Parkfield was awarded it for the third year in a row.
Fisher's Field Nature Reserve in Bushey has won a Green Flag Community Award for the third time. This is a national award that recognises high quality green spaces that are managed by voluntary and community groups.
The Bushey Rose Garden has won the Green Flag for the first time this year and has also been successful in receiving the prestigious Green Heritage Award due to the historic nature of the garden.
All sites were judged to be well-maintained and well-managed, with excellent facilities.
We have submitted the applications for the 2012 awards and should hear more news in July...
Pictured (from left to right) are Francesca Turze (Bushey Parks Officer), Michaela Strachan, Cllr Jean Heywood and Betty from the Friends of Fishers Field
Councillor Jean Heywood, Hertsmere's Environment Portfolio Holder, said: "This is fantastic news! We are absolutely thrilled that five of our parks have retained their Green Flag Award status and that we have obtained a six award for the Bushey Rose Garden.
"The awards recognise the hard work and dedication of our parks team, our grounds maintenance contractor John O'Conner and our friends groups and volunteers 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 which can really make a difference."
Thanks go to Borehamwood Four Parks Friends Group, Friends of King George Recreation Ground, Friends of Fishers Fields, Friends of the Rose Garden, garden volunteers and Friends of Potters Bar Parks who all volunteer their time to make the parks a special place to visit.
If you would like to read the Management Plans for our award winning parks they will be available to download shortly from this page. If you have any comments on the Plans please email us at parks.consultation@hertsmere.gov.uk.
The UK's leading urban environment charity manages the Green Flag Award scheme. Their aim is to inspire and promote progressive improvements in the quality of urban life for everyone and the Green Flag Award scheme is a key part of that objective.
