Record-breaking year as more than 2,000 green spaces across the country get international quality mark

Today, parks and green spaces across the country will be raising their Green Flag Award with pride in a year when millions of people have seen the value of having great quality green spaces on their doorstep.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Councillor Mark Orchard, Mayor of Silloth said:

“I am proud to announce that Silloth has been awarded the Green Flag Award yet again.

The maintenance and upkeep of our green and its floral displays is a huge task and thanks must go to our grounds maintenance team who work exceptionally hard to achieve this year on year. This is complimented by the large amount of work by our ever-present community gardening volunteers in the form of the Friends of Silloth Green group.

Friends of Silloth Green meet weekly and tirelessly aim to help with the needs of making Silloth Green an area we can all be proud of.

We are fortunate to have this large open space on our doorstep, which during this pandemic has been a godsend to our residents and visitors who have had the opportunity to get out and about for some fresh air whilst maintaining distance.  We aim to keep working hard to ensure we maintain the Green Flag status year on year for all to enjoy.

Thank you to everyone who has helped achieve this for Silloth.”

Silloth Green is one of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2020.  Silloth Green is the only park in Allerdale to be awarded a Green Flag Award and joins only three other green spaces awarded recognition in Cumbria.

Silloth Green is one of the largest village greens in the North of England. It boasts spectacular views over the Solway Firth to Criffel and the Caerlaverock Hills in the North, and the Lake District to the South. The Green forms a green link between Silloth’s grand Victorian townscape and the sea front promenade, for many years attracting visitors seeking fresh sea air and recreational facilities.

After extensive refurbishment work, Silloth Green now boasts a modern Water Splash Park, a Woodland adventure play area, a Pirate Ship play area for children aged 0-5 years, a BMX track, a Putting Green & a Fairy Trail. Beautiful oak picnic tables and benches are to be found in various locations, with accessible footpaths linking the various features. Along Criffel Street, some Victorian style lighting was installed, in-keeping with the heritage of the town. The Edwardian ladies’ toilets built in 1910 and the spectacular Victorian pagoda overlooking the sea were also sympathetically refurbished.

A new addition to Silloth Green this year was the installation of nine picnic tables and additional bins, kindly funded by Allerdale Borough Council which have proved very popular and were sited along the edge of the Green to support our local businesses as they came out of the covid lockdown.  Work has also continued on the extensive replanting of the shrub beds along Criffel Street.

The Community Garden, situated on the corner of Criffel Street and Lawn Terrace, provides a vibrant entrance to Silloth Green and a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by.  The Heritage Rose and Bee Garden is situated closer to the sea, with a bee hotel in the middle of a striking display of rose bushes, plants and shrubs which have created a haven for the local bee and butterfly population.

Commenting on Silloth Green’s success, Councillor Tony Markley, who is also Chair of Friends of Silloth Green added:

“The Green Flag Award status is a great accolade for Silloth-on-Solway to be awarded annually.

The Community garden and award-winning Bee garden have always been pinnacles of the Green, with a vast array of well-established mature shrubberies and flower beds around the green.

Maintenance of the area is carried out by the grounds maintenance team employed by Silloth Town Council who do a marvellous job looking after this vast area.

The Friends of Silloth Green community group was established a few years ago to assist with the maintenance of the community garden, with the main people being latterly Ann Winter and now Judith Scott, whose knowledge and commitment is to be commended.

Over the last year or so, the community group, motivated by Carol Doran has prospered and grown into a larger creditable group meeting weekly and when required, to assist the grounds maintenance team with weeding and replanting of flower beds, under the watchful eye of Judith and the team. The group has been well supported by local business, with refreshments and goods to continue looking after this great asset for the Town.

The group have also established an allotment to plant seeds, vegetables and flowers for replanting on the Green, alongside a wonderful Pagoda built by Jim Scott and assisted by members of the group for the community to enjoy and benefit from.

The Friends of Silloth Green community group is well supported by members of the community, local business and local Councils, to continue maintaining this great asset to a national Green Flag standard for Silloth on Solway residents and visitors to the town to enjoy.”

Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.

“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, Silloth-on-Solway Town Council has achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”