Firstly before I begin my blog today I'd just lke to take a moment to offer my thoughts on HM Queen Elizabeth II.

We are all reeling from the sudden death of Her Majesty who for me has been an inspiration in her dedication and service to this country for an amazing 70 years.

The shear scale of this momentous occasion we are witnessing with her passing and the ascending of a new monarch in King Charles III, will no doubt stay with us and be one of this era's defining moments. I was 11 when we had the last state funeral of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 and I still remember that day so vividly.

It is not until you hear the tributes and see achievements that our Queen was involved in, do you get a sense of the importance and the vital role that monarchy plays in the safe and securing running of our great country.

We should all take stock, making the most of these next few days, appreciating this momentous occasion and being proud to be British.

God save the King.

Green Flag judging

Last week I spent a couple of days undertaking some ‘mystery shopper’ visits on behalf of the Green Flag Awards programme. 

The sites I visited were a mixed variety of parks and public open spaces, that included Victoria Park Stafford, Markeaton Park walled garden near Derby, Montgomery Canal in Shropshire and Stanmore Country Park, Bridgenorth.

Victoria Park, Stafford 

Every new site is assessed by experienced judges, who make an appointment to inspect the site and meet staff and volunteers. In subsequent years, judging alternates between a full assessment as described below and an unannounced "Mystery Shop" assessment.

Montgomery Canal, Shropshire 

The full assessment has two parts and judges score each section of the Green Flag Award Score Sheet. 

Stage One: Desk Assessment: Judges assess the site-specific management plan and associated documentation, and any response to the judges’ feedback from the previous year (if this isn’t a first application). 

Public bowling green at Victoria Park, Stafford 

This section is worth 30 out of 100 points. The average score is calculated and multiplied by 3 to give a score out of 30.  At least 15 points are required to achieve the accreditation.

Stage Two: Site Assessment: Judges assess whether the management plan is in practice on the site, and how well the Green Flag Award criteria have been met. This is determined by observation and by questioning staff, volunteers and visitors.  

Mystery Shop visit: one judge will visit the site unannounced and mark it against the Green Flag Awards criteria. 

A record number of parks and green spaces across the UK reached the high standards required for a coveted Green Flag Award in 2022. The scheme is celebrating as 2208 parks – the largest number since the scheme began 26 years ago – are proudly preparing to raise their flags.

The Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, has seen successful submissions from local authorities and other land managers across the country for a range of sites, from world-famous city parks to unique green spaces.

In my opinion these national awards are an essential recognition of the skilled work and management being carried by parks professionals and the many volunteer groups that continue to support and help run these valuable assets.

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

A recent YouGov survey 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.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Chief Executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE recently 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.”

There are estimated to be around 27,000 parks and public open spaces being managed by Local Authorities, Town and Parrish councils.  Parks are more than just the green oases beautifying our towns and cities and providing a home for nature. Parks are one of our most used publicly-funded services. They form the heart of local community life, providing space for people to exercise to improve their physical health and mental wellbeing, to play, chat, eat, gather, protest and relax. 

Parks are essential pieces of community infrastructure. The huge importance of our urban parks has never been more appreciated and understood than it is today. Covid-19 has meant that increasing numbers of people have discovered, used and relied upon their local parks and green spaces to help them to cope with lockdown restrictions, although this has also placed more pressure than ever on these vital green assets.

For me and many other ex and current parks manages, it is now time our government recognise the importance of these national assets and began a programme of regular investment to help sustain their future and provide the necessary funds for their ongoing regular maintenance.

I firmly believe they are the green lungs of our cities and towns and will in the future be an important cog in the fight against climate change, helping to pave a way to reducing our carbon footprints.