Queen’s Park in TV spotlight

Queen's Park Heywood

Local children might spot somewhere familiar when they tune in to watch their favourite TV shows next week because Queen’s Park in Heywood was chosen by ITV producers as the setting for the network’s latest advert to promote their Mini CITV schedule.

The promotional adverts for Mini CITV are scheduled to broadcast from Wednesday (25 August 2010) during a number of CITV commercial breaks.

Explaining why Queen’s Park was the chosen filming location for the promotional adverts, director Corrinne Averiss, said: “We chose Queen's Park because it had the right variety of environmental props we needed for the advert - like trees, bushes, plenty of space for the children we featured to run and colourful flowerbeds.

“More importantly, we wanted to capture shots of the children having a fun time and knew Queen’s Park was the kind of space to bring that out that playfulness.”

Queen’s Park recently retained its prestigious Green Flag status after it won the award again for the fourth successive year. The park was one of eight green spaces in the Rochdale borough to achieve Green Flag status this year.

Councillor David Clayton, cabinet member for environment and leisure at Rochdale Borough Council, added: “We’re delighted CITV’s producers chose to film in Queen’s Park as it has so many terrific filming qualities. When it comes to outdoor shoots, the possibilities at Queen’s Park are endless as it just has such a great deal to offer.”

Supporters of the park, including its dedicated friends group, are also waiting to see if it has been successful in its bid to become the nation’s favourite after Keep Britain Tidy hosted a contest to find the People’s Choice Green Flag space.

The result is expected to be announced in October.