Posts Tagged ‘Green Flag’

The Green Flag flies for Buchan Park

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

On Saturday 25th September, the Green Glag Award for Buchan Park was honoured with a walk around and talk from Robin Edwards, Senior Ranger and many dignitories. Crawley Happy Times went along to enjoy the walk, talk and fantastic views. We even got to see a couple, Geraint and Kylie Roberts, on their wedding day, using the park for their photos and a very rare sighting of an Elephant Hawk-Moth Caterpillar! What a great day! Well done to all for the hard work that goes into making the area such an amazing park. :o riginal report below:

Buchan Country Park in Crawley is celebrating after receiving the prestigious Green Flag Award.

This national award is the national standard for parks and recognises welcoming, well-managed, high quality green spaces.

Buchan Country Park, owned and managed by West Sussex County Council, is a haven for a variety of wildlife and good for walking or enjoying a picnic. The Park also runs a series of events throughout the year aimed at encouraging people to enjoy the park and learn more about it.

The award is based on eight criteria:

• a welcoming place

• healthy, safe and secure

• clean and well maintained

• sustainability

• conservation and heritage

• community involvement

• marketing

• management

The Green Flag will fly at Buchan Country Park for 12 months.

Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “This award recognises the hard work that both staff and volunteers have put into ensuring that the Country Park remains a special piece of Sussex countryside.

“The park is enjoyed by many families and there are lots of events going on during the school summer holidays.

“Congratulations to all involved with Buchan Country Park, this award is a credit to them.”

For more information about Buchan Country Park and events, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/buchan, email buchan.park@westsussex.gov.uk, or phone 01293 542088.

You can ‘Meet the Buchan Bushcrafters’ on video at www.westsussex.gov.uk/video and scroll down to the ‘Where we live’ tab.

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Tilgate Park gets high praise from Green Flag judges

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Tilgate Park gets high praise from Green Flag judges


Tilgate Park received its ninth Green Flag Award in nine years in July – and now the judges have given it another seal of approval.

The judges who toured the beautiful park earlier this year have sent the council a feedback report, which highlights strengths and weaknesses.

The judges said: “Tilgate Park represents the very best of what can be achieved from a well managed and maintained public open space.”

Many aspects of the park were singled out for praise, including the new playground, the lack of dog fouling, a park free of litter, graffiti and vandalism, the re-use of leaves and manure on-site, the input from a wide range of community groups and the strong management of the park.

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. The park is open all year round. Tilgate Nature Centre is open from 10am-6pm until October 30 and 10am-4pm afterwards.

The Walled Garden is open everyday from 10am-5pm (until 5.30pm on Sundays and bank holidays). The Walled Garden Café opens from 10am-4.30pm everyday (and until 5pm on weekends and bank holidays) until October 30 and from 10.30am-3pm (and until 3.30pm on weekends and bank holidays) afterwards.

The judges added: “Tilgate is an outstanding park which clearly – and easily – scored sufficient points to retain its Green Flag status. To achieve such an excellent standard is of great credit to all those who work there. Their commitment and feeling of ownership to the park is palpable to anyone who visits.

“The judges are acutely aware that such high levels are neither easy to achieve, or cheap to maintain, but Tilgate Park is remarkable in both these respects and worthy of the highest praise.

“Crawley is lucky to have such a jewel in its crown – but also has a responsibility preserve it.”

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

said: “The judges’ feedback is superb. We know that Tilgate Park is fantastic but it’s great to hear professionals giving it the seal of approval.

“We scored extremely highly but there are still improvements we can make and we’ll take these on board as part of the long-term improvements to the park.”

In July Tilgate Park, along with Goffs Park and Memorial Gardens, all achieved Green Flag status. Goffs Park and Memorial Gardens have both had Green Flags for three consecutive years.

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

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Tilgate Park gets high praise from Green Flag judges

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

Tilgate Park gets high praise from Green Flag judges

Tilgate Park received its ninth Green Flag Award in nine years in July – and now the judges have given it another seal of approval.

The judges who toured the beautiful park earlier this year have sent the council a feedback report, which highlights strengths and weaknesses.

The judges said: “Tilgate Park represents the very best of what can be achieved from a well managed and maintained public open space.”

Many aspects of the park were singled out for praise, including the new playground, the lack of dog fouling, a park free of litter, graffiti and vandalism, the re-use of leaves and manure on-site, the input from a wide range of community groups and the strong management of the park.

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. The park is open all year round. Tilgate Nature Centre is open from 10am-6pm until October 30 and 10am-4pm afterwards.

The Walled Garden is open everyday from 10am-5pm (until 5.30pm on Sundays and bank holidays). The Walled Garden Café opens from 10am-4.30pm everyday (and until 5pm on weekends and bank holidays) until October 30 and from 10.30am-3pm (and until 3.30pm on weekends and bank holidays) afterwards.

The judges added: “Tilgate is an outstanding park which clearly – and easily – scored sufficient points to retain its Green Flag status. To achieve such an excellent standard is of great credit to all those who work there. Their commitment and feeling of ownership to the park is palpable to anyone who visits.

“The judges are acutely aware that such high levels are neither easy to achieve, or cheap to maintain, but Tilgate Park is remarkable in both these respects and worthy of the highest praise.

“Crawley is lucky to have such a jewel in its crown – but also has a responsibility preserve it.”

Councillor Lenny Walker, Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, said: “The judges’ feedback is superb. We know that Tilgate Park is fantastic but it’s great to hear professionals giving it the seal of approval.

“We scored extremely highly but there are still improvements we can make and we’ll take these on board as part of the long-term improvements to the park.”

In July Tilgate Park, along with Goffs Park and Memorial Gardens, all achieved Green Flag status. Goffs Park and Memorial Gardens have both had Green Flags for three consecutive years.

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

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Green Flag hat-trick for Crawley

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

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

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Posted in News Bulletins | 1 Comment »

Buchan Country Park achieves prestigious Green Flag award

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

Buchan Country Park achieves prestigious Green Flag award


Buchan Country Park in Crawley is celebrating after receiving the prestigious Green Flag Award.

This national award is the national standard for parks and recognises welcoming, well-managed, high quality green spaces.

Buchan Country Park, owned and managed by West Sussex County Council, is a haven for a variety of wildlife and good for walking or enjoying a picnic. The Park also runs a series of events throughout the year aimed at encouraging people to enjoy the park and learn more about it.

The award is based on eight criteria:

• a welcoming place

• healthy, safe and secure

• clean and well maintained

• sustainability

• conservation and heritage

• community involvement

• marketing

• management

The Green Flag will fly at Buchan Country Park for 12 months.

Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “This award recognises the hard work that both staff and volunteers have put into ensuring that the Country Park remains a special piece of Sussex countryside.

“The park is enjoyed by many families and there are lots of events going on during the school summer holidays.

“Congratulations to all involved with Buchan Country Park, this award is a credit to them.”

For more information about Buchan Country Park and events, visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/buchan, email buchan.park@westsussex.gov.uk, or phone 01293 542088.

You can ‘Meet the Buchan Bushcrafters’ on video at www.westsussex.gov.uk/video and scroll down to the ‘Where we live’ tab.

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Posted in News Bulletins | 1 Comment »