Stevenage Borough Council is delighted to announce that it has this year won two prestigious Green Flag Awards.
The accolades for Britain’s best green spaces have gone to Fairlands Valley Park for the third consecutive year and, for the first time, to the Town Centre Gardens.
Green Flag Awards are the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. Flags are awarded annually to a variety of green spaces that are welcoming, healthy, safe, and secure, clean and well maintained, and sustainable, among other criteria.
The Town Centre Gardens has recently re-opened after a restoration generation project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, that saw the pond drained and cleaned with marginal and aquatic planting introduced, trees pruned and planted, new flower and plant beds throughout the park, the installation of a new bridge, an improved new sensory garden, new signage and interpretation boards, a new play area, and improved lighting and access. It is now an important green space that residents and visitors are already enjoying.
Fairlands Valley Park has remained one of the town’s most popular visitor attractions. Its 120 acres includes four lakes, two children’s play areas, a sailing centre, and many areas of grassland and woodland.
Both sites also benefit from a wide range of community activities and events, and provide wonderful opportunities for people to enjoy these green spaces – be it for quiet contemplation or more active pastimes.
Cllr Howard Burrell, Executive Member for Children and Young People, Culture, Sport and Leisure, said, “We’re doubly delighted with our two Green Flags. Stevenage is a very green town, our residents and our visitors make great use of all our parks and open spaces, and it’s gratifying to get this national recognition for two of our parks.”
Cllr John Gardner, Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration, said, “The awards recognise the commitment of everyone who contributed to the success of the Town Centre Gardens regeneration project, and of those who have worked so hard to make Fairlands such a popular and well-kept green space. Congratulations to everyone involved.”
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The information contained in this press release was correct on the date of issue.