Green Flag hat-trick for Crawley

Three of Crawley’s attractive parks have again been awarded the prestigious Green Flag.

Beautiful Tilgate Park has received the award for the ninth consecutive year while Goffs Park, in Southgate, and the Memorial Gardens in the town centre have picked up their third Green Flags – the national standard for quality parks and green spaces.

Tilgate Park, set in 400 acres, scooped its first Green Flag in 2002.

Winners are judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained and involve the local community.

Tilgate Park boasts a nature centre, golf course, lakes, lawns and gardens, woodland walks and bridleways.

Goffs Park has a lake, 18-hole pitch and putt course, miniature steam railway, state-of-the-art play facilities and is home to Crawley Museum.

The Memorial Gardens are an oasis of calm in the middle of the bustling town centre, with lunching office workers and sunbathers enjoying the lush lawns and vibrant plants.

Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services,

said: “This is a fantastic achievement and we are delighted to have won these awards.

“It demonstrates the commitment of the council and its dedicated staff to keeping these great parks and open spaces so special. It is also just reward for a huge contribution from the Friends of Goffs Park.”

The Green Flag Award is sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, English Heritage and Natural England.

For more details on Crawley’s parks visit www.crawley.gov.uk/parks. For more details on Green Flag Awards visit www.greenflagaward.org.uk