The Green Flag Award
Bicclescombe Park in Ilfracombe was first awarded the Green Flag in 2004. The Parks and Amenities team were successful in retaining the award in 2005-06. The Parks team are looking to make it a hat-trick in 2006-07.
The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country.
This award is given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. There are eight key criteria that the park must meet to achieve GFA status.
1) A welcoming place
Bicclescombe Park in Ilfracombe was first awarded the Green Flag in 2004. The Parks and Amenities team were successful in retaining the award in 2005-06. The Parks team are looking to make it a hat-trick in 2006-07.
The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country.
This award is given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. There are eight key criteria that the park must meet to achieve GFA status.
1) A welcoming place
- Good and safe access
- Good signage to and in the park
- Equal access for all members of the community
2) Healthy, safe and secure
- Equipment and facilities must be safe to use
- The park must be a secure place for all members of the community to use or traverse
- Dog fouling must be adequately addressed
- Health and safety polices should be in place, in practice and regularly reviewed
- Toilets, drinking water, first aid, public telephone and emergency equipment where relevant should be available in or near the park and clearly sign posted.
3) Clean and well maintained
- Litter and other waste management issues must be adequately addressed
- Grounds, buildings, equipment and other features must be well maintained
- A policy on litter, vandalism and maintenance should be in place, in practice and regularly reviewed
4) Sustainability
- An environmental policy or charter and management strategy should be 9in place, in practice and regularly reviewed
- Pesticide use should be minimised and justified
- Horticultural peat use should be eliminated
- Waste plant material in the park or green space should be recycled
- High horticultural and arboricultural standards should be demonstrated
- Energy conservation, pollution reduction, waste recycling, and resource conservation measures should be used
5) Conservation and Heritage
Particular attention should be paid to the conservation and appropriate management of:
- Natural features, wildlife and fauna
- Landscape features
- Buildings and structural features
6) Community Involvement
- Knowledge of user community and levels and patterns of use
- Evidence of community involvement in management and/or developments and results achieved
- Appropriate levels of provision of recreational facilities for all sectors of the community
7) Marketing
- Marketing strategy in place, in practice and regularly reviewed
- Good provision of information to users, e.g about management strategies, activities, features, ways to get involved
- Promotion of the park or green space as a community resource
8) Management
- The GFA application must have a management plan or strategy in place which reflects the aspirations of Local Agenda 21 and clearly and adequately addresses all the above criteria and any other relevant aspects of the park or green spaces management. The plan must be actively implemented and regularly reviewed. Financially sound management of the park or green space must also be demonstrated.
