Breadcrumbs
Green Pennants and Flags see Green Space Lottery schemes come of age - 30 August 2006
In particular, the Countryside Agency want to congratulate the 18 Green Pennants and two Green Flags awarded to Doorstep Greens and Millennium Greens.
Dave Haygarth, of the Doorstep Greens team, said: "To see so many community groups putting their projects on the map amongst the very finest parks and green spaces is fantastic news. We've been promoting the idea of using the Green Flag and Green Pennant awards to keep standards high, but we were delighted these small community projects have achieved such an unexpected number of awards."
In 2005, just two Doorstep Greens and four Millennium Greens gained awards, but as more than half of the country's Doorstep Greens reach completion, more and more seem ready to go for Green Pennant.
Doorstep Greens are an initiative of the Countryside Agency - funded by £12.89m of National Lottery money from the Big Lottery Fund. A predecessor to Doorstep Greens was the Millennium Greens initiative, similarly funded by the Millennium Commission.
Bank Top Doorstep Green in Bolton have just won their second Green Pennant. The site was an overgrown derelict tennis court a few years ago, and their design is relatively simple: a path running around a central lawned area, with seating, tree planting, shrub and bulb planting, willow sculpture reflecting the garden's tennis heritage and iron rail fencing in keeping with the local area.
Nick Moule from the Bank Top Community Group said "We now have a fantastic green space which everyone can enjoy. The Green Pennant award is recognition of the hard work of residents and other partners. It shows what is possible by working together to create a sustainable green space and better environment."
Read more about the awards and these sites at www.greenflagaward.co.uk
- Ends -
For more information please contact the Countryside Agency press office on:
Beth Rose: 01242 533306 or 07900 608 168
Matthew Heard: 01242 533476 or 07900 608 168
-Notes to Editors-
The Doorstep Greens and Millennium Greens to have gained awards are:
* Fairstead Doorstep Green
* Sea Palling with Waxham Doorstep Green
* West Horndon Park
* Chiltern Green, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
* Old Bakehouse Millennium Green
* Ashton West End Doorstep Green
* Banktop Community Garden
* Haughton Green Playing Fields
* Wesham Jubilee Doorstep Green
* Oak Road Doorstep Green
* Wolverton Secret Garden
* Woodhatch Park
* Somerset Square
* Kettlebridge Doorstep Green
* Fairfield Millennium Green & Community Orchard
* Garstang Millennium Green
* St Stephen's Millennium Green
* Darwin Gardens Millennium Green
* Moore Avenue Community Park
* Millbrook Park Millennium Green
1. The Doorstep Greens initiative was launched by the Countryside Agency in April 2001 with the aim of providing grants of between £10,000 to £150,000 to local communities to help them create and manage their own special local open space. ‘Opening Green Doors’ is as a summary of then evaluation of five years of Doorstep Greens, showing how new open spaces, play areas, nature reserves, village greens and flower gardens are helping to improve quality of life for communities everywhere. Copies are available from: www.countryside.gov.uk/doorstepgreens
2. In September 2000 the Big Lottery Fund appointed the Countryside Agency as an Award partner to distribute grants through its Doorstep Greens scheme. The Doorstep Greens initiative closed to new applicants in April 2003. More information about Doorstep Greens is on the web at www.countryside.gov.uk/doorstepgreens
3. Big Lottery Fund is the joint operating name of the New Opportunities Fund and the National Lottery Charities Board (which made grants under the name of the Community Fund). The Big Lottery Fund, launched on 1st June 2004, is distributing half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK. Details of the Big Lottery Fund’s programmes and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
4. The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by the Civic Trust on behalf of the Green Flag Advisory Board. The scheme is sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government, English Heritage, The Countryside Agency, English Nature and in Wales by the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Agency (Wales).
5. The Civic Trust is an independent, national charity, founded in 1957. It works with people to promote thriving towns and villages, developing partnerships between communities, government and business to deliver regeneration and local improvement. It is the umbrella body for 850 civic societies across the country, representing over 250,000 individuals committed to improving and caring for places where people live and work. www.civictrust.org.uk
The Countryside Agency
The Agency is changing as the result of Defra's Rural Strategy 2004 and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, which gained Royal assent in March 2006.
The New Act sets out the creation of:
- Natural England - a single new body that will integrate the Landscape, Access and Recreation division of the Countryside Agency with English Nature and most of Defra's Rural Development Service (RDS). Natural England will work for people, places and nature, with responsibility for enhancing biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promoting access, recreation and public well-being, and contributing to the way natural resources are managed - so that they can be enjoyed now and by future generations.
- Commission for Rural Communities – a single body that will act as a rural advocate, expert adviser and independent watchdog, with a particular focus on disadvantage. Currently operating as a division of the Countryside Agency, the Commission will become an independent body
These changes will come into effect in October 2006, at which point the Countryside Agency will cease to exist.
We may be changing, but our skills, knowledge and enthusiasm will continue to benefit people in rural England. To find out more about our work, and for information about the countryside, visit our website: www.countryside.gov.uk
