Feeling good is a walk in the park, says Council Leader

Jubilee Park, Middleton

​It's common knowledge that when the sun shines it makes everyone feel better about life; it's good for their health and wellbeing.

This of course is also true of our physical environment. There have been plenty of academic studies which show that having clean streets, floral displays, beautiful parks and green spaces makes people feel better about life.

That's why I was delighted to hear that eight of the borough's parks have now been awarded Green Flags, awards which recognise the highest standards of quality and visitor facilities.

Only parks which are 'beautifully maintained' qualify so you can see just how prestigious the flags are.

It's our best ever tally with Jubilee Park in Middleton and Heywood's Hopwood Park joining the exclusive club for the first time.

They join Rochdale Town Centre Parks, Queen's Park, Heywood and Littleborough's Hare Hill Park, who have notched up a decade of Green Flags.

Milnrow Memorial Park, Middleton Cemetery and Truffet Park on Langley complete the impressive list.

It goes without saying that none of this would be possible without the hard work and professionalism of the council's environmental team.

The help doesn't stop there. This continual success also relies on the army of 'Friends Groups' and volunteers who spend hours of their free time hard at work beautifying their chosen project.

Of course, we need to remember this success is under the continued spectre of central government budget cuts

Against this backdrop the council is still investing an extra £1.5 million every year on environment improvements.

It has to be money well spent - right?

A clean and green borough does wonders for a sense of wellbeing, pride of place and is also an important tool for attracting new investment to the area.

How many times have you thought the borough's looking clean and green as you go about your business?

Next up is Britain in Bloom. The crucial judging is taking place in Middleton and Heywood this week and Rochdale and the Pennines in early August 2017.

I've been told that an incredible 200,000 flowers have been planted to brighten up the borough, which should give us a decent chance of improving on the record haul of 28 In Bloom gongs we notched up last year.

Everyone can play their part. Use the litter bins (the council has provided an extra 150 bins this year); look at ways you can spruce up your premises and street and help keep the area around where you live clean and tidy.

Councillor Richard Farnell
Leader of Rochdale Borough Council