Warminster’s Lake Pleasure Grounds has been awarded a Green Flag by the organisation Keep Britain Tidy
The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Chair of Warminster Town Council’s Parks and Estates Committee (which looks after the Park) Cllr Stacie Allensby said, “A Green Flag is the top accolade for a town park. I am very pleased that every year since 2017 the Lake Pleasure Grounds have won a Green Flag. You can’t rest on your laurels and to keep winning a Green Flag, each year you must show that you are making improvements. The judges look at a whole range of criteria across the whole spectrum of running a park before deciding whether a park qualifies.
Cllr Bill Parks, Vice-chairman of the Parks and Estate Committee said: “Local people are rightly proud of the Lake Pleasure Grounds. Since it was taken on by the Town Council, improvements have been made every year. The skatepark, the splash pad, the lava trail, resurfacing of paths, bringing back boat hire, the list goes on.”
Councillor Allensby continued:
“Town Councillors have taken bold decisions to invest in the Park, and these have paid off with it being hugely popular with residents and attracting others to Warminster. Town council staff and volunteers work hard to ensure our town park is somewhere that has something that appeals to everyone. From the model boat club to the CCTV operators, the school children planting flower beds, the staff in the café or the people cleaning the toilets, or the people putting on events like Inspire, this is a real team effort.”
Councillor Parks added:
“The public play a huge part in maintaining the Lake Pleasure Grounds by treating it with respect and valuing the marvelous facility for everyone. My thanks and appreciation to them all. Not only is the Park a haven for wildlife and people seeking quite reflection, it can also be a hive of activity for people seeking something to do. The beautiful setting, the peaceful atmosphere and yet plenty of activities are a winning combination. In my view it is the best park in Wiltshire.”
Commenting on the news that the Lake Pleasure Grounds has met the Green Flag Award standard, Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making the Lake Pleasure Grounds worthy of a Green Flag Award.
The Green Flag is judged on 28 factors. To be worthy of a green flag a park has to be:
A welcoming place with good, safe and equal access for all. Somewhere that makes people feel that they are in a cared-for place.
A place where managers understand visitor’s needs, encouraging them to enjoy healthy activities using appropriate, safe-to-use facilities and activities, and to feel personally safe and secure.
A place were litter is dealt with and grounds, buildings, equipment and other features are well maintained.
A site that is managed has a positive impact on the environment. Horticultural and arboricultural decisions should reflect an understanding of the impacts of climate change.
A place where attention is paid to the appropriate management and conservation of natural features, wildlife and flora; landscape features; and buildings and structures.
A place where the managing organisation understands the community it seeks to serve and ensures that there is appropriate provision of recreational facilities and activities for all sectors of the community.
The Green Flag Award Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.
Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. It sets the standard for the management of parks and beaches, inspires people to be litter-free, to waste less and live more sustainably. It runs campaigns and programmes including the Great British Spring Clean, Eco-Schools, Love Parks, Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, its campaigns and programmes visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.
Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag Award status. A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage Site Accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s historic features and the standard of conservation.
Last modified: 26 July 2022
