Eight Green Flags for parks across the borough

Harehill Park gets its fifth green flag

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The Rochdale borough has achieved eight coveted Green Flag awards, the national benchmark for parks and green space excellence – it was announced today (Wednesday 28 July 2010).

Seven of the borough’s parks have retained their Green Flag statuses, whilst Middleton Cemetery has been welcomed into the borough’s parks elite for the first time.

The Rochdale borough’s Green Flag-awarded parks and green spaces are listed below by township area:

Rochdale

• Broadfield Park 
• Rochdale Memorial Gardens 
• Packer Spout Gardens

Heywood

• Queen’s Park

Middleton

• Truffet Park, Langley 
• Middleton Cemetery, Boarshaw

Pennines

• Hare Hill Park, Littleborough 
• Milnrow Memorial Gardens

Peter Cunningham, service director of Environmental Management at Rochdale Borough Council said: "We’re fully committed to providing the Rochdale borough with quality green spaces people can enjoy.

“We don’t take previous Green Flag successes for granted, and our staff and friends groups work tirelessly and continuously to ensure Green Flag statuses are retained – and the fruits of their efforts have been duly rewarded. My thanks to everyone who’s made a contribution to this terrific result.”

A Keep Britain Tidy initiative, the Green Flag scheme was introduced in 1996 and was inspired by the Blue Flag scheme for clean beaches. Awards are given every year to parks and green spaces that are welcoming, safe and well-maintained with strong community involvement and regard for conservation, sustainability and heritage.

Councillor David Clayton, Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure at Rochdale Borough Council, added: "This is terrific news, and well deserved for the people of the Rochdale borough and those who come to visit us.

“Achievement of the Green Flag status, which every park strives to achieve, shows that our parks are amongst the best in the country. What’s more, it’s our local community which reaps the benefits, so go out and enjoy!”