Parks and green spaces across the country are raising their Green Flag Award with pride in a year when millions of people have seen the value of having great quality green spaces on their doorstep.

Among them will be Queen’s Park, Holmebrook Valley Country Park, Poolsbrook Country Park, Eastwood Park and the gardens at Chesterfield and District Crematorium in Chesterfield which are raising a Green Flag Award for the 14th time.

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

Queen’s Park, Holmebrook Valley Country Park, Poolsbrook Country Park, Eastwood Park and the gardens at Chesterfield and District Crematorium are some of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2020.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “I’m delighted that we have maintained our Green Flag Awards in these brilliant parks and green spaces. This recognition really means a lot to the team who work so hard to maintain our parks and greens spaces. This year has been a very difficult year for our team because of Covid-19 and the huge increase in the number of residents making use of their local green spaces. I hope that we can continue to provide high quality green spaces for all our residents to enjoy.”

Commenting on Chesterfield’s success, Keep Britain Tidy Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton OBE said: “This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.

“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, Chesterfield Borough Council has achieved the highest international standards in Queen’s Park, Holmebrook Valley Country Park, Poolsbrook Country Park, Eastwood Park and the gardens at Chesterfield and District Crematorium demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

 Hollingwood Hub on the Chesterfield Canal in Staveley has also been awarded a Green Flag for the third time. The Hub is the headquarters of the Chesterfield Canal Trust. 

Jim Bower, who leads the volunteer gardeners, said: “We are delighted to receive this recognition. Lots of us work year-round to make Hollingwood Hub an oasis of peace. Awards are very welcome, but our real satisfaction comes from the many members of the public who tell us how much they love coming here.”