In a record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award, Chorley Borough has five of 2127 parks celebrating success.

As the scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, Chorley Council has raised Green Flags in Astley Park, Yarrow Valley Country Park, Coronation Recreation Ground, Harpers Recreation Ground and Withnell Nature Reserve.

Councillor Adrian Lowe, Executive Member of Chorley Council (Customer and Streetscene Services) said: “The Green Flag Award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, so we are thrilled at the news that five of Chorley’s parks have received it.

“It’s testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that continue to make our green spaces a place that everyone can enjoy. The parks are used by many people of all ages, to relax, play, exercise, socialise and they have been particularly important during the lockdowns, for both physical and mental health.” 

Chorley’s Green Flag Award winning parks join parks and green spaces as diverse as the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, Woodhouse Park in Peterlee and Chiswick Old Cemetery in London.

Commenting on the news that five of Chorley’s parks have achieved the Green Flag Award standard, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making these parks worthy of Green Flag Awards.”

“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that these spaces have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and are places that support people to live healthy lives.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

In celebration of this year’s announcement, Green Flag Award is asking buildings and monuments around the UK to #GoGreenForParks today to show appreciation for the spaces that mean so much to people.