Silloth Green gets Green Flag Award for Second Year

Silloth Green gets Green Flag Award for Second Year

Silloth Green  is still one of the very best in the UK after gaining a Green Flag Award for the second year running. The Green is among a record-breaking 1,476 parks and green spaces that will today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award for 2014-2015.

The 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 the public 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, a Putting Green and newly revamped BMX track. Beautiful oak picnic tables and benches are to be found in various locations, all accessible by new paths. Paths lined with shrub beds allow disabled access to all main areas.

After consultation and a great deal of input from local people in 2013, the Community Garden was professionally designed by ‘Moota Garden Centre.’ It was landscaped and planted, with local people and youngsters from the school adopting and planting their own plant. The garden opened in May 2014, and is now being cared for by ‘Friends of the Green,’ who are making sure it continues to look its very best. Regular events, organised by volunteers, 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. General information and more details about events can be found on the Silloth Green website at www.sillothgreen.co.uk

Tony Markley, Mayor of Silloth, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for the second year from Keep Britain Tidy. This Award recognises Silloth Green as a well-managed, high quality green space, which could not have been achieved without the dedicated work of our Town Council staff, grounds maintenance team, and community volunteers. People of Silloth and increasing visitors to the town are benefitting from new public realm initiatives alongside a mature and well maintained space of the highest quality.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: “We are delighted to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces.

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

“Quality green spaces are a vital resource for communities and 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 Carnival Day, 25th August at 10.00am on the Green (at the corner of Criffel Street and Lawn Terrace). Local photographers and reporters are welcome to attend.

Press enquiries

anna.malina@silloth-on-solway.co.uk

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