Last week I was fortunate to attend one of the three Green Flag Award ceremonies being held to honour the winners of this year’s scheme. 

All in all, over 2208 parks and public open spaces in the UK have successfully met the Green Flag standard. I, along with over 200 parks professionals and volunteers, had been invited to attend the event held at National Memorial Arboretum in Burton. 

It was certainly a great day for everyone who attended, with the chance to visit the Arboretum, meet up with fellow parks professionals and enjoy the awards ceremony.

As a Green Flag judge it was wonderful to meet up with the many parks people who I had met during this year’s round of judging and witness them receive their awards.

Never has the value of free to access parks and green spaces been more important - with parks continuing to provide a sanctuary for communities to engage with nature, improve their physical and mental health, play and come together.

That’s why I believe it’s important that parks are managed to the Green Flag Award standard, which recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces.

The awards came as new research carried out by YouGov for Keep Britain Tidy revealed:

• 84% of dog walkers in Great Britain said going to the park made them more relaxed, while 86% said it made them happier.
• 88% of parents of children aged four to 11 said going to the park makes their child happier, and 65% said it made their child calmer.
• 22% of parents said a park that feels safe was the main thing they looked for when choosing where to visit
• 61% of parents said the reason they took their child or children to the park is because it is free.

At the event, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said, “Parks are an essential part of our green infrastructure, playing a key role in our environmental sustainability.

“They are often the beating heart of a community, providing countless benefits to people and wildlife. “Importantly, they provide a green haven for everybody to enjoy, regardless of their age, social status or ability to pay for access. It’s clear from our research that for quality green spaces to meaningfully contribute to our health and wellbeing, they must be universally accessible and fit for purpose.

“The Green Flag Award is a vital component in ensuring the continuing quality of our parks and green spaces, making sure they are managed to the highest standards and are safe and accessible.

“The news that a record number have achieved the Green Flag Award standard is testament to the hard work of staff and volunteers who look after these national assets.”

I feel it is great that we continually see an increase in the number of parks winning this award, however as an ex-parks manager, we still have a long way to go especially when it has been well documented that we have over 27,000 parks in this country.

I have said on more than one occasion that parks are a vital asset to our communities and need proper investment from the government. For me it is about time parks were acknowledged as a statutory service and the relevant funds are made available for the ongoing maintenance of these vital public land assets. 

These thoughts are echoed by Paul Rabbitts, chairman of the Parks Management Association, who in a recent blog wrote about the importance of the Green Flag Awards.