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A Green Flag will be proudly welcomed at Upton Country Park today as staff at the Park bring home the first award of its kind in Poole. Presented yesterday at Hall Place and Gardens in London, the award is a national scheme which aims to improve the quality of green spaces in the UK.

 

Upton Country Park was recognised alongside 11 others in the South West as being a sustainable open space that involves the local community and was praised for being welcoming, healthy, clean, safe and well maintained. These awards are as prestigious as the Blue Flags which are awarded for outstanding beach quality. Poole has received more than any other British resort.

 

Cllr Graham Wilson, Executive Portfolio Holder for Community Development, said: "This award is excellent news for Poole’s parks and those that enjoy them. We are renowned for the Blue Flag Awards for our beaches and we now have the opportunity to carry this over into our open spaces. Those that worked hard to receive this award can take pride in their achievement and I hope we can look forward to keeping that Green flag flying high!"

 

Recently opened and proving extremely successful at Upton Country Park are the Peacock tearooms and following a successful partnership project with the Friends of Upton Country Park, a brand new Education Resource Centre was opened there in April. The centre has made it possible for wardens to provide educational activities through schools and youth groups for approximately 650 children.

 

Justine Hawkes, Upton Country Park Warden, Leisure Services, Borough of Poole, said: "It is very rewarding for the Park staff and also the Friends of Upton Country Park to be recognised nationally by achieving this accolade. With its 100 acres of open parkland, formal gardens, woodland and shoreline trails, Upton Country Park gives everyone the chance to relax and learn about the heritage and wildlife of the area. It’s the first time that we have applied for a Green Flag and we are very pleased with the result!"

 

 

The next big project for the Park will be the redevelopment of the walled garden. The history of the garden is currently being researched so that some of its original features can be reproduced and will be used to inspire the shape the garden.

 

The Green Flag Award scheme started in 1997/98 and is supported by the government. It features in ‘Green Spaces, Better Places’ - the final report of the Urban Green Spaces Taskforce · The awarding body, the Green Flag Steering Group, is managed by the Civic Trust who promote and encourage improvements in the quality of urban life for all.

 

For more information contact: Justine Hawkes, Upton Country Park Warden, Borough of Poole Tel: (01202) 672625 or email: j.hawkes@poole.gov.uk