Castle Park in Penrith has officially been recognised as one of the country’s best parks after winning a prestigious Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.
The Award marks a double celebration for Westmorland and Furness Council, which is also marking Keep Britain Tidy’s Love Parks Week, which runs until 4 August. Love Parks Week celebrates the amazing parks and green spaces that make our communities greener and healthier.
The council also received Green Flag Awards for its cemeteries in Penrith and Alston.
Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities and Localities, Cllr Virginia Taylor, said, “I am delighted that these much-loved places have once more achieved this Green Flag accolade. The awards are a fitting testament to the hard work and dedication of the council’s Grounds Maintenance Team as well as the volunteers that care for our green spaces so that visitors and residents alike can enjoy them.
“Castle Park is a vital green space for communities in Penrith to socialise, enjoy nature and for children to play safely - plus it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.
“I know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that these parks maintain the high standards of the Green Flag Award. I hope everyone involved feels as proud of their achievement as I do.”
The council part funded a £400,000 project to refurbish the tennis courts in Castle Park, recently. The work secured the future of Penrith Tennis Club and provided year-round facilities for residents to enjoy.
The court renovations were made possible by funding from Westmorland and Furness Council, Sport England, Cumbria Waste Management Environment Trust, The Hadfield Trust, Penrith Tennis Club, Penrith Town Council, and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Tennis Foundation and the UK Government as part of the Parks Tennis Project to transform thousands of park tennis courts across Great Britain.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Westmorland and Furness Council on achieving their Green Flag Awards.
“It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”
The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, 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.
