COUNCIL park teams across Dorset are celebrating after scooping a coveted Green Flag award.

The parks, gardens, commons and reserves were chosen by the Keep Britain Tidy team for being well-managed and of high-quality.

Moors Valley Country Park in East Dorset – which campaigners say is threatened by plans for a quarry – has won a Green Flag for the third year in a row.

Staff say the award highlights their success on its 25th anniversary.

Clare Gronow, countryside manager, said: “Receiving the Green Flag is national recognition for the hard work and dedication of the rangers, support staff, volunteers and business concessionaires whose collective efforts create the Moors Valley experience.”

Part of Moors Valley Country Park and Forest looks set to be developed as a quarry and landfill site after a Hampshire County Council planning inspector said sand and gravel that could be extracted there is “essential” to the county.

Winners in Poole include Hamworthy Park, Poole Park and the popular Upton Country Park.

In Bournemouth Alum Chine including Argyll gardens, Boscombe Chine Gardens, Fisherman’s Walk, Hengistbury Head Nature Reserve, Kinson Common, the Central and Upper Gardens, Moore Avenue Park, Pelhams Park, Redhill Park and common, Seafield Gardens, Slades Farm, Springbourne Gardens, Stour Valley nature reserve and Winton Recreation Ground. Knyveton Gardens won a Green Flag award last year but missed out on the shortlist this year.

A total of 1,266 parks and greens spaces scooped a coveted Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality green space in the UK.

The Green Flag scheme is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales and provides the most widely accepted measure of quality relating to the management, operation and improvement of freely accessible public parks and green space.

Town pride

THE Mayor of Christchurch raised a green flag at Christchurch Quay for the second year running.

The Mayor, Cllr John Lofts, raised the flag at the splashpark on the Quomps and thanked everyone involved in managing, maintaining and volunteering at the site. He said: “It is a great achievement to be awarded a Green Flag for a second year by Keep Britain Tidy. “Christchurch’s strapline is ‘where time is pleasant’ which could have been invented to describe The Quomps at Christchurch Quay – ask any of the children who enjoy the splashpark here.”

A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to visitors that the space boasts the highest possible standards.

Townsend sets standards

GREEN-fingered Townsend residents are celebrating again after their community garden was awarded a Green Flag.

The Green Flag Community Award recognises the UK’s top green spaces which are managed by voluntary and community groups. Part of the Green Flag Award scheme, it sets the national standard for quality parks.

Since the Townsend Community Garden was unveiled in 2006, it has been nurtured and tended by residents who have ensured it is a beautiful green space for the community to enjoy.

Local resident and keen gardener Dave Sheppard said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Community Award for the sixth time.

“This award recognises and highlights how people in Townsend are benefiting from a green space of the very highest quality.”

The record number of awards across the country means more people than ever before will have access to well-managed, quality green space, which is vital to their health and well-being. Local councillor Michael Weinhonig said: “The Townsend Community Garden is a great asset for residents. It’s a fantastic example of how a community can work together to improve their local environment and I would like to congratulate all who’ve been involved.”

For more information about the garden please visit thetownsend.co.uk/community-garden

If you are a local resident and would like to help contact Townsend Community Centre on 01202 301556.