Our Hall Leys Park still one of UK's best

: Tuesday, 24 July 2012 12:18

Our Hall Leys Park in Matlock is once again officially one of the best in the whole of the UK.

Youngsters celebrate in the Hall Leys Park sunshine with members of the District Council's parks team (from left) Neil Mather, Damien Sax and Robert Falconer Already a magnet for families as the school holidays begin and Love Parks Week is in full swing, the Matlock attraction is celebrating its fifth consecutive Green Flag Award.

Green Flag Awards recognise and reward the best parks in the country and Hall Leys Park stood out after impressing the judges as a high quality green space with excellent facilities well-maintained and well-managed by Derbyshire Dales District Council.

District Council Chairman and Deputy Leader Councillor Geoff Stevens MBE said:

"Our parks and streets teams work hard throughout the year to make sure facilities such as the Hall Leys are maintained to a high standard and enjoyed both by local people and visitors to the Dales.

"We know from listening to local people how much importance they attach to the District Council keeping the Dales clean and green, and this fifth successive award is a tribute to the terrific work that goes on daily throughout the Dales.

"This work is vital as our beautiful parks and gardens contribute to the £256-million and 5,700 jobs tourism brings to the local economy."

The 2012 flag flying in Hall Leys Park Last year marked the centenary of the Hall Leys Park and the installation of a brand new toilet block. The park has been further enhanced in 2012 by new accessible play equipment suitable for disabled youngsters and their friends and family.

With well-surfaced paths, plenty of benches, good lighting, beautiful riverside walks and clear open spaces, the park is a regular venue for major events, competitions and festivals.

Facilities include a bowling green, boating lake, children's interactive play area, miniature railway, putting green, skateboard park and tennis courts.

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said:

"We are thrilled to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces. A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the achievements of all those whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.

"I must also thank all this year's 800+ volunteer judges for their magnificent efforts in assessing an astounding number of applications."

The Green Flag Award Scheme is managed by a consortium, comprising Keep Britain Tidy, BTCV and GreenSpace. Known collectively as the Green Flag Plus Partnership, the consortium manages the scheme in England on behalf of Communities and Local Government (CLG) and in Wales for the Welsh Steering Group.
Green Flag Award recognises well managed, high quality green spaces. Any green space is eligible to win this award providing visitors can enter free of charge. Previous winners include parks managed by local authorities as well as those run by community groups and trusts. The scheme was set up in 1996.
A record number of 1424 parks and green spaces have received a Green Flag Award in 2012.
Green Flag's vision is that by 2020, 50 per cent of green spaces in England and Wales will be of Green Flag standard – a staggering 15,000 sites.