Residents and visitors to Hertsmere can take even greater pride in their local green spaces, as eight of the borough’s parks and open spaces have been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
Hertsmere is celebrating as parks in Bushey, Borehamwood, and Potters Bar have once again been recognised for their exceptional standards, maintenance and community involvement. All parks are part of a record breaking 2,391 in the UK to achieve the award this year – a fantastic testament to the the team who care for the spaces.
The park with the longest running award history is King George Recreation Ground in Bushey, which has held the prestigious accolade for an impressive 28 years.
Not far behind is Oakmere Park in Potters Bar which has received the annual award 24 times, Aberford Park in Borehamwood has held a Green Flag for 19 years and Parkfield in Potters Bar has been awarded it 17 times.
Bushey Rose Garden has received the award for 16 years, Mary Forsdyke Garden and Warren Lake, located in the heart of Bushey Heath, has won the prestigious award for the ninth time and Meadow Park in Borehamwood for the fourth year.
Bushey Rose Garden has also again achieved the much-coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation, supported by Historic England, for the management and promotion of its historic features.
Elsewhere in Bushey, Fishers Field Nature Reserve has achieved a full Green Flag Award for the second time, after previously being awarded the flag for the Community Award for the previous 16 years, in recognition of work carried out by local volunteers who manage the site in partnership with the council.
Councillor Chris Myers, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, Parks, Leisure and Culture, said: “I am incredibly proud that so many of our parks have been recognised with Green Flag Awards again this year. Our parks play a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of our residents – offering peaceful places to unwind, space to exercise and enjoy nature. We're committed to ensuring these beautiful much-loved natural assets remain welcoming, safe and accessible for all.
“These awards highlight the hard work and dedication of our parks team, our grounds maintenance contractor John O'Conner, our fantastic friends groups and InspireAll, which manages our parks events. Together they create green spaces we can all enjoy.”
Paul Todd MBE, Green Flag Award Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming.
“With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.”
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under contract from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
To find out more about our parks please visit our website www.hertsmere.gov.uk/parks or the ParkHerts website www.parksherts.co.uk.