Our Hall Leys Park in Matlock has been recognised by the international Green Flag Award Scheme as one of the very best in the world – for the 10th consecutive year.
Owned and maintained by your District Council, the town centre park has received the award from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy.
The new flag was hoisted onto the flagpole in Hall Leys Park today (Tuesday 18 July) during Love Parks Week.
Chairman of the District Council’s Community & Environment Committee, Councillor Jo Wild said:
“At times like this we rightly praise our superb clean and green team for their dedicated work in keeping more than 30 parks and gardens looking great across the whole of the Derbyshire Dales.
“Hall Leys Park is recognised by local people and visitors alike as one of the finest town centre parks and the jewel in Matlock’s crown. We are incredibly proud it has been chosen for Green Flag status for a 10th year running.
“It’s important to remember too that keeping our towns and parks clean and green boosts the local economy, helping to attract nearly five million visitors a year who spend more than £315 million in the Dales.”
The international Green Flag award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
Hall Leys features beautiful riverside walks, a bowling green, boating lake, children's interactive play area, miniature railway, skateboard park and tennis courts - and this Saturday (22 July) will see the launch of a new multi-use games area in the park.
It is among a record-breaking number of 1,797 parks and green spaces across the UK flying the Green Flag Award this year, and International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said:
“We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme.
“Each flag is a celebration of the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. The success of the scheme, especially in these challenging times, demonstrates just how much parks matter to people.”