Highdown Garden Wins Top Park Award for 7th Time
Highdown Gardens has once again been given the coveted Green Flag Award for the seventh year running by Baroness Kay Andrews, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State.
A record 551 Green Flag Awards - the national standard for parks and green spaces - have been awarded to sites across the country including Worthing. The scheme has been running for 11 years and this year has seen a 30 per cent rise in the number of winners, further evidence of the renaissance of our parks and green spaces. Winners were judged to be welcoming, safe and well maintained and involve the local community.
Highdown occupies 8.52 acres of stunningly beautiful gardens on downland countryside overlooking the sea and offers a unique collection of rare plants and trees. The gardens, created out of a chalk pit in the 1930's, are so special they have been deemed a National Collection.
Paul High, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, said: "I am absolutely delighted Highdown Gardens has won a coveted Green Flag again. They are very special gardens to Worthing's residents and visitors and we are very proud to showcase them as a national collection."
Baroness Andrews said: "I’d like to congratulate all of the Green Flag winners this year. The huge rise in winners is yet more evidence that across the country the standard of our parks continues to rise. Parks are an oasis of calm and natural beauty and have a vital role to play in our modern lives as places where people come together to relax, exercise and play.
"Green Flags are awarded to the country’s best parks but everyone should be able to enjoy great quality parks and green spaces. Our ambition is that all communities should benefit from this renaissance and local people have the opportunity to take part in the transformation of their parks.”
In addition, 77 community run sites were awarded Green Pennants and 31 sites achieved Green Heritage Site Accreditation.
The Green Flag Award is a key component of the Government's commitment to create cleaner, safer, greener communities. This year’s winners will celebrate their achievements at a major ceremony at the Royal Armouries, Leeds. Supported by Leeds City Council, Caliba Signs and Sutcliffe Play, winners will be awarded their Green Flags at the event, which for the first time includes a suppliers’ exhibition.
For further information about Green Flag parks, you can visit the Green Flag website on www.greenflagaward.org.uk
