Selly Oak Park is one of the very best in the UK – and that’s official.
This park is among a record-breaking 1,447 parks and green spaces that 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.
Selly Oak Park on Gibbins Road, Selly Oak was a joint bid put together by Birmingham City Council’s Park Service and Quadron Services who maintain the park. The bid was supported in no small part by the Friends of Selly Oak Park who in their spare time and weekends have helped make this part such an important focus for the local community.
The Chair of the Friends of Selly Oak Park, Andrew Schofield said: “The Friends of Selly Oak Park are delighted that the park has been recognised as an open space of the highest quality. We are grateful to Birmingham City Council and Quadron Services for their continued support for the park and for all the local groups that use the park and help to make it such a vital open space in the ward.”
District Chair Councillor Karen McCarthy said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for the park at its first attempt. This Award shows that the efforts of officers and the Friends of Selly Oak Park have together given local people a green space of the very highest quality
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
11 Birmingham Parks now have the coveted Green Flag status
Aston Park
CannonHill Park
Castle Vale Centre Park
Cotteridge Park
Handsworth Park
KingsHeath Park
LickeyHills Country Park
Newhall Valley Country Park
SellyOak Park
Sunset and Moonlit Parks
Ward End Park
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.
Press enquiries
Please call Geoff Coleman on 0121 3033501 with any Birmingham City Council related enquiries.
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