Five of Stevenage’s green spaces receive Green Flag Awards

Stevenage boasts five of the best green spaces in the country, after five sites received Green Flag Awards yesterday (Wednesday 14 October).

Fairlands Valley Park has won a Green Flag Award every year since 2010, Town Centre Gardens since 2011, Hampson Park since 2015 and Shephalbury Park since 2018. Weston Road Cemetery has won the award for the first time this year.

The burial grounds provide attractive and peaceful green spaces for all visitors to enjoy, whether for remembering a loved one or taking time for quiet reflection.

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

The Stevenage sites are five of more than 2,000 across the country to collect the award for 2020.

Councillor John Gardner, Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration, said: “It’s fantastic news that Stevenage has once again been recognised as having some of the best green spaces in the country – including Weston Road Cemetery which has won the award for the first time. This year, parks and open spaces have been more important than ever and we’re fortunate to have so many wonderful places for residents and visitors to enjoy in our borough.

“Winning the five awards is the result of hard work and dedication from the council, Green Space Volunteers, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Health Walks and other partner organisations working together to maintain the sites.”