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Fifteen Sheffield parks flying flag among best in country

People holding green flag in Meersbrook Park
Councillor Alison Teal stands with Cactus from Meersbrook Park Users Trust, proudly holding the Green Flag award over the views of Meersbrook Park with Councillor Brian Holmshaw

As the Green Flag Award scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, 15 parks in Sheffield are among more than 2,000 green spaces across the country, celebrating success this year.

The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, recognising environmental character, maintenance and visitor experience.

Sheffield City Council is proudly receiving Green Flag Awards for Cholera Monument Grounds and Clay Wood, Devonshire Green, Ecclesall Woods, Firth Heritage Park, Meersbrook Park, Millhouses Park, Norfolk Heritage Park, Peace Gardens, Sheffield Botanical Gardens, Sheffield Winter Garden, Tinsley Green, Weston Park and Wheata Woods.

Green Flags were also awarded to Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust for Wyming Brook Nature Reserve, and Green Estate for Manor Fields Park.

The Green Flag awards were announced in the same week that Sheffield topped the charts for its open spaces, in the national Thriving Places index.

Since the start of the pandemic parks and green spaces have played a vital role for people as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely.

Sheffield parks and countryside staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to make sure the city’s green spaces are well maintained for visitors, resulting in Sheffield once again retaining the high standards awarded to Green Flag sites.

Councillor Alison Teal, Executive Member for Wellbeing, Sustainable Neighbourhoods, Parks and Leisure at Sheffield City Council, said:

“Our parks, woodlands and green spaces are the jewel in Sheffield’s crown, and we are incredibly lucky to have so many amazing open spaces to enjoy. I’m so proud of what our hard-working teams have achieved, with more than 800 green spaces to look after it’s a real testament to them to once again be awarded so many Green Flag sites.

“I want to thank all the local people who support us in looking after our parks, many of them giving up their time so that others can benefit and enjoy spending time outdoors and in nature. We have very passionate Friends Groups in the city and they deserve recognition for the effort they put in to their local areas.

“We recognise the important role that quality green spaces play in improving health and wellbeing and prioritise areas where parks need more investment. We have a whole programme of improvements planned for the year ahead and continue to work with partners to secure funding and investment at every opportunity. I hope that this time next year we’ll be celebrating with even more Green Flag awards added to the list.”

Commenting on the news that Sheffield has achieved Green Flag Award standards at sites across the city, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Sheffield’s beautiful parks worthy of a Green Flag Award.”

“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management are met, and that parks support people to live healthy lives.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

Community Awards are also issued to local groups for the work they do to maintain community parks and green spaces. In Sheffield Community Awards were given to:

  • Devon Gardens - Friends of Devon Gardens
  • Grenoside Green - Friends of Grenoside Green
  • Firth Park Community Allotment - Heeley City Farm
  • Gleadless Valley Methodist Church Community Garden - Heeley City Farm
  • Heeley City Farm - Heeley City Farm
  • Norfolk Park Community Garden - Heeley City Farm
  • Wortley Hall Walled Garden - Heeley City Farm
  • Meersbrook Community Walled Garden - Meersbrook Park Users Trust

In celebration of this year’s announcement, Green Flag Award is asking buildings and monuments around the UK to #GoGreenForParks today to show appreciation for the spaces that mean so much to people.

In Sheffield the JG Graves Discovery Centre – which is celebrating its 10-year anniversary - will be ‘going green’ along with the Weston Park Bandstand and the Botanical Garden Pavilion. They will be lit up until Sunday (17 October) evening.

Sheffield Botanical Gardens pavilion

You can check out all of the Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces on the Green Flag website.