It’s official…Silloth Green IS one of the best parks in the UK!

It’s official…Silloth Green IS one of the best parks in the UK!

Silloth Green is one of the best in the country

Keep Britain Tidy announces a record-breaking number of award-winning parks and green spaces for 2013.

Silloth Green is one of the very best in the UK – and that’s official. Among a record-breaking 1,447 parks and green spaces Silloth Green will today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award.

The national award, handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to visitors that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

Three separate park areas, namely: ‘The Green,’ ‘Harbour Green’ and ‘Skinburness Green,’ are collectively known as ‘Silloth Green.’ The park is one of the largest village greens in the North of England. It boasts spectacular views over the Solway Firth to Criffel and the Kilavorick Hills in the North and the Lake District to the South. The Green forms a green link between Silloth’s grand regency townscape and the sea front promenade, for many years attracting visitors seeking fresh sea air and recreational facilities.

Successful funding bids in 2010 resulted in a two-year programme to refurbish the Green and restore its heritage buildings. Heritage Lottery Fund put forward £1.1m and the Rural Development Programme for England provided funds of £100k. The Edwardian ladies toilets, built in 1910 and the spectacular Victorian pagoda built on a mound overlooking the sea have been sympathetically refurbished. The Green also now boasts a modern waterplay area, an entertainment area in local Cumbrian sandstone, a woodland adventure play area, and a newly revamped putting green. Beautiful oak picnic tables and benches are to be found in various locations, all accessible by new paths. The rose garden, planted in 1954 to commemorate the Queen’s coronation, has been replanted with roses. Paths lined with shrub beds allow disabled access to all main areas.

A Community Garden, designed, planted and cared for by volunteers is in plan. Regular events are held on the Green and a number of free festivals are held annually, including Silloth Green Day, the Steam and Vintage Rally, Kite Festival, Summer Carnival, Santa Dash and Christmas Market. In addition, the popular Silloth Music and Beer Festival is held annually. New events are also now in planning.

Anna Malina, Community Engagement Officer for the Green said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for the first time. This Award recognises and highlights that people are benefitting from a green space of the very highest quality.”

Tony Markley, Town Mayor said “The award of a Green Flag for Silloth Green is a fantastic achievement for the local community and visitors who use this marvelous high quality area on a regular basis. Silloth Green is a fantastic show-piece for Silloth-on-Solway. It offers a space for all generations to relax and play and to enjoy panoramic views over the Solway Firth and Lake District Fells, while enjoying the Victorian architecture and cobbled streets around the town. This prestigious award has been achieved by a dedicated Town Council and maintenance team working alongside local partner organisations and members of the community, who volunteer their time to put on events and help care for the Green. Well done to all concerned.”

The record number of awards across the country means more people than ever before will have access to well-managed, quality green space, which is vital to people’s health and wellbeing.

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “We are thrilled to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces.

“A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the hard work and dedication of all the parks managers, staff and volunteers who have helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.

“Quality green spaces are absolutely essential to happy, healthy communities. They are fundamental to our quality of life, whether in cities, towns or villages. That is why it is so significant that we have given out more awards than ever before.”

Ends

 Notes To Editors

Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and to live more. We are run programmes including 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 programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.

Keep Britain Tidy run the Green Flag Award scheme in the UK on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government. It is run in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy, Tidy Northern Ireland, Keep Scotland Beautiful, the National Housing Federation and the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.

Any green space that is 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 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.

Photocall opportunity

A Green Flag raising ceremony will take place on the Green, on the corner of Criffle Street and Lawn Terrace, during Silloth-on-Solway’s Carnival Day, at 3.30pm on Monday 26th August 2013. Local photographers and reporters are welcome to attend.

Press enquiries

Anna Malina: email: anna.malina@silloth-on-solway.co.uk  Office Tel: 016973 31816  Mobile 07900922818

Contact the Keep Britain Tidy press office:

Helen Bingham 01942 612617 helen.bingham@keepbritaintidy.org

Keep Britain Tidy Mobile (24 hours, 7 days a week): 07768 880016

Keep Britain Tidy has ISDN radio facilities for interviews

ISDN: 01942 322178

Please contact the press office in advance to make arrangements