Queen’s Park named nation’s favourite

Queen's Park

Queen’s park in Heywood has been named the nation’s favourite park in the People’s Choice Awards.

The park received over 2000 votes in Keep Britain Tidy’s quest to discover the People’s Choice site of the year Green Flag space.

Queen’s Park consistently sat in pole position throughout the competition thanks to everyone who voted it as their favourite.

In close pursuit was Littleborough’s Hare Hill Park, which finished in a respectable third place overall with almost 1,200 votes.

Sheila Hill Chairwoman of the Friends of Queen’s Park group said: “We are very excited and very grateful for all the votes.

“I think we must congratulate the people of Heywood for supporting us so well in this bid because we wouldn’t have won it if it wasn’t for them.

“I am absolutely delighted, it is quite something. The parkstaff and Cameron Baines, our previous warden have put a lot of work in to achieve this.”

Queen’s Park Warden Tom Ratcliffe said: “We are absolutely over the moon with the news; this is the People’s Choice Award and it just shows how many people value Queen’s Park. The award really is testament to the support we have from the Heywood community.”

Councillor Irene Davidson, Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “This is an outstanding result for Heywood and the Rochdale borough. To have a winning park and another in third place out of all the thousands of Green Flag-award spaces is truly remarkable and we’re extremely proud.”

Councillor Alan McCarthy, chair of Heywood Township, added: “We are thrilled to have the nation’s favourite park right here in Heywood. It’s terrific news for the town and gives local people another reason to be proud of Heywood’s ‘jewel in the crown.’

Councillor Colin Lambert said: “Congratulations to the Friends Group at Queen’s Park Heywood.

“A truly magnificent honour and one which is well deserved.

“The people of Heywood and the many visitors to the park have known for a long time what a treasure this is in our community.

“Sheila Hill, Walter Lomax and many more must be so pleased that their hard work and long struggle to regenerate the park has received such high recognition.

“It is a people’s vote and people’s recognition for a people’s park.”

Councillor David Clayton, the council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, said: “I know how much hard work and effort goes into restoration and maintenance works by our parks staff and friends groups, so for them this is the equivalent of winning an Olympic gold medal.

“My congratulations and thanks to the staff and friends groups – your dedication has been duly rewarded.”