NEWS RELEASES
Green Flag Award for Horsham Park
17 July 2008
THE Government's Parks Minister, Baroness Andrews, has recently announced that Horsham Park has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award.
The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country.
It was also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.
Horsham Park was assessed by two professional judges in May, and judged against key criteria against which every park or green space for which an application is made, is judged. The eight headings are as follows:
- A welcoming place
- Healthy, safe, and secure
- Clean and well maintained
- Sustainability
- Conservation and heritage
- Community involvement
- Marketing
- Management
The judges, David Hares and Matthew Tickner, made extremely positive comments about the Park and compared it very favourably against other parks they had judged.
As part of the assessment, the judges reviewed the new Horsham Park Management Plan, which has recently been adopted by the Council, following considerable consultation with park users and other interest groups. The Management Plan is available on Horsham District Council’s website.
The Friends of Horsham Park were a key consultation group for the development of the management plan and regularly provide input into the running of Horsham Park. To get involved with the Friends of Horsham Park please call 01403 215256.
Speaking of the news, Cllr Brian Donnelly, Cabinet Member of Leisure and Health at Horsham District Council, said:
"I am delighted that Horsham Park has been awarded this impressive accolade.
“We know that the Park is well loved by many of the District's residents and to have this award demonstrates that Horsham Park is being properly managed both for now and the future.
“I'm particularly proud of the work of our Parks team in achieving this major success."
Chris Dier, Director of Community Services at Horsham District Council, said:
"Over recent years there have been a number of changes to Horsham Park, not least the hugely popular children's play area and the skate park providing free access opportunities for young people.
“Such facilities have been successfully integrated into the Park which now provides first class facilities for many users, as well as being an attractive haven of quiet in the busy town centre.
“It's most pleasing to gain such external recognition."
Ends
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email: richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk