Beach Gardens raises prestigious Green Flag after achieving international quality mark for parks and green spaces, for the second year!
************************************************************************************
Beach Gardens Sports Park awarded the coveted Green Flag Award as it is officially recognised as one of the country’s best parks.
The news that Beach Gardens has achieved the accreditation - the international quality mark for parks and green spaces - is testament to the hard work and dedication of the Council’s teams that care for the green space so that everyone can enjoy it.
Councillor Debby Monkhouse, Chair of the Town Council's Environment and Green Spaces Committee commented:
"The Council are delighted to have been awarded the Green Flag for the second year. This award would not have been possible without the great teamwork of The Council’s Grounds Maintenance and Information Centre teams.
Working closely with Swanage Tennis Club and Swanage Bowling Club, a comprehensive management plan is in action for Beach Gardens, setting out the Council’s vision, priorities and objectives for continuing to improve and maintain the area for many years to come.
This unique, very accessible park offers so much, and appeals to all age ranges; putting, basketball, bowls, tennis, table tennis, and plenty of seating so that everyone can take a moment to sit down and enjoy the wonderful planting, trees, and fantastic views of the hills and bay. There are also public toilets, including disabled facilities and we are looking forward to the installation of new solar panels on our pavilion building in the autumn.
This is a wonderful place to come and sit on our lovely, decked area and partake in some Fairtrade and locally sourced refreshments whilst taking in the views – in good weather you can even see the Isle of Wight.
The Town Council is very proud of Beach Gardens, and we look forward to welcoming the local community and visitors throughout the year.”
The Town Mayor, Councillor Tina Foster added “‘I’m so pleased that Beach Gardens has been officially recognised, for the second year running, as one of the country’s best parks. It’s a wonderful and very special place, thank you to the teams who have worked so hard to achieve this prestigious award.”
***********************************************************************************
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said:
“I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Beach Gardens in achieving a Green Flag Award.
“Beach Gardens is a vital green space for the community in Swanage, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”
The Green Flag Award Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.
Congratulations and well done all!
If you would like further information about Beach Gardens, its history, and to view a copy of the Management Plan 2024, please visit the Council’s website:
www.swanage.gov.uk/BeachGardensTea.aspx
If you would like to join or find out more about membership or bookings for Swanage Tennis Club and Swanage Bowling Club, please visit their respective websites and/or Facebook pages below:
• Tennis Club
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/SwanageTennisClub
https://www.facebook.com/swanagetennisclub/?locale=en_GB
• Bowling Club
Swanage Bowling Club – Lawn bowls on the Dorset Coast
https://www.facebook.com/
Thank you.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
A full list of Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces can be found via the following link:
Green Flag Award List 2024
**********************************************************************************
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We set the standard for the management of parks and beaches, inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and live more sustainably. We run campaigns and programmes including the Great British Spring Clean, Eco-Schools, Love Parks, Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our campaigns and programmes please visit: www.keepbritaintidy.org
Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag Award status. A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage Site Accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s historic features and the standard of conservation.
16th July 2024
Photograph supplied by Mr Matthew Snowdon, Assets and Compliance Support Officer, Swanage Town Council.