Ditchling Common Country Park, which is owned and managed by East Sussex County Council, has received a prestigious Green Flag Award. The ranger for the site, Ken McManamon is delighted that all the hard work that he and the many volunteers have put into looking after the Country Park has been rewarded.
Ken was joined by Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport and Envirionment, two trainee rangers, members of the Mid Sussex Bridleway Group and the regular Wednesday volunteer work party to celebrate the news.
Green Flag Awards recognise and reward the best parks in the country and Ditchling Common Country Park stood out after impressing the judges with its excellent management of habitats, well-maintained facilities and high standard of safety and security.
Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport and Environment said, "With parks providing the perfect location for families during the school holidays, I am very pleased that we have received this national recognition for Ditchling Common Country Park. Ditchling Common is an example of the beautiful countryside we have on our doorstep. I would also like to thank the rangers and volunteers who do a marvelous job in looking after these green areas."
This year has seen the highest number of awards handed out – a record 1,200 Green Flags and Green Pennants across the UK compared to 1,013 in 2009. Green Pennants are awarded to parks or green spaces managed by a community or voluntary group.
Paul Todd, Manager, Green Flag Award Scheme, said: "It's a remarkable achievement that so many parks have successfully reached Green Flag Award status this year. The staff running the parks work very hard throughout the year to ensure their facilities are maintained to a high standard and enjoyed by the entire community.
"As the recession bites and people look closer to home to enjoy the outdoors, the provision of high-quality, free open spaces is of particular importance."
Only green spaces that are free to enter and open to the public are eligible to win an award through the scheme, which is run by environmental charities Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace.
Photo shows from left to right: Members of the Mid Sussex Bridleway group, the volunteer work party and two trainee rangers with Ken McManamon, Ditchling Common Country Park Ranger, and Councillor Matthew Lock, Lead Member for Transport and Environment, celebrating the park's new Green Flag status.
Further information
Ditchling Common Countryside Park
Ditchling Common Country Park covers 76 hectares (188 acres). The site is used for activities including walking, fishing, picnicking, education and dog walking.
The main management activities on site include coppicing, scrub clearance, path clearance and surfacing, fencing, pond creation and the installation and maintenance of countryside furniture.
It was historically common land, used by people with commoners rights. We purchased the land in 1974 and it was then designated as a Country Park.
If you are interested in helping us maintain our countryside sites in East Sussex, you can register to be a Voluntary ranger.
Green Flag Award Scheme
The Green Flag Award Scheme is managed by a consortium, comprising Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace. Known collectively as the Green Flag Plus Partnership, the consortium manages the scheme in England on behalf of Communities and Local Government (CLG) and in Wales for the Welsh Steering Group.
Green Flag Award recognises well-managed, high-quality green spaces. Any green space is eligible to win this award providing visitors can enter free of charge. Previous winners include parks managed by local authorities as well as those run by community groups and trusts.
The applications for the Green Flag Awards are judged against eight criteria:
- a welcoming place
- healthy safe and secure
- clean and well maintained
- sustainability
- conservation and heritage
- community involvement
- marketing
- management.
The Green Flag Award vision is that by 2020, 50% of green spaces in England and Wales will be of Green Flag standard – a staggering 15,000 sites.
For more information visit the Green Flag Award website.
Contact the Keep Britain Tidy press office
Keep Britain Tidy has ISDN radio facilities for interviews – tel: 01942 322178. Please contact the press office in advance to make arrangements.
Reference:
2904
Contact the press team
East Sussex County Council