Keeping the Green Flag flying high

The Packer Spout fountain and St Chad's gardens have been awarded Green Flag status for the first time.

Two of Rochdale's parks have achieved the coveted ‘Green Flag’ status for the first time.
The awards for Packer Spout and St Chad's, behind Rochdale Town Hall, and Truffet Park, in Langley, brings the total number of Green Flag parks in the Borough to a record number.

Seven parks will now display the national benchmark for quality, after Broadfield Park, Hare Hill Park, Milnrow Memorial Park, Queen's Park and Rochdale Memorial Gardens each retained their Green Flag status.

The parks will be officially awarded on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 July at a ceremony in Bournemouth.

Over the next few weeks, each park will be celebrating with a Green Flag being raised in recognition of the award.

The Civic Trust run the Green Flag scheme, which was introduced 11 years ago after it was inspired by the Blue Flag scheme for beaches. Flags are awarded to welcoming, safe and well-maintained spaces with strong community involvement.

The scheme is to recognise the value of green spaces in communities (particularly urban environments), and it rewards excellent standards for park management.

The awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status.

In order to qualify, parks and green spaces must be freely accessible to the public and have given regard to sustainability, conservation and heritage.