A record number of parks and green spaces collected a Keep Britain Tidy Green Flag Award last week and Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust (TCCT) are delighted to announce that Cockington Country Park, Torquay, was one of them!
Not only is the country park recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as one of the very best in the world, but is one of only 5 sites in the UK that have held the award since its launch which means it’s the 23rd flag for the country park.
Cockington is among a record-breaking 1,970 UK parks and green spaces that have received a prestigious Green Flag in 2019 – the mark of a quality park or green space. An international award now into its third decade, the Green Flag is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust is Torbay’s independent conservation charity and is responsible for the care and maintenance of Cockington Country Park. This care could not be achieved without the massive contribution made by a small army of local volunteers. The Cockington Green Heart Appeal Project has been largely responsible for the parks success and has provided means to refurbish parts of the park in recent years including the historic lakes, the Gamekeeper’s cottage, which is now home to the park’s voluntary trainee team, and The Linhay, which serves as the Park’s Visitor Centre.
Damian Offer, Chief Executive of Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust said:
“We are delighted to receive the Green Flag Award for 23rd year running”.
“The award celebrates high quality green spaces like Cockington. It is great acknowledgement of the huge effort made by everyone involved in caring for this very special part of Torbay. We could not have achieved the Green Flag for 23 consecutive years without the generous help of Cockington’s friends and volunteers, for which we are extremely grateful”.
Hannah Worthington, former Cockington Green Heart Access Officer said:
“A part of the Green Heart Project was to deliver a programme of community volunteering, for all ages and abilities. Our volunteers have been involved in virtually all areas of the parks regeneration including landscaping around the lakes, many general maintenance tasks as well as helping in the Visitor Centre. Since its start in 2015, over 140 volunteers have helped deliver the project, contributing a collective 6000 hours of their time! Time that has helped achieve the high standards required to qualify for Green Flag recognition.”
International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said:
“It’s fantastic that we have more Green Flag Awards in the UK than ever before, joined this year by 131 International winners.”
“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We congratulate each and every winner on their fantastic achievement.”
More about….
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust
An independent charity dedicated to looking after Torbay’s most important wildlife and heritage sites, including Berry Head National Nature Reserve, Cockington Country Park, Occombe Farm, The Seashore Centre, the South West Coast Path and the English Riviera Geopark. For more information about Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust visit www.countryside-trust.org.uk
Cockington Green Heart Appeal
The Cockington Green Heart Appeal has been delivered over 4 years and started in 2015. The Trust was awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £1.6 million. The Projects main aims were to: rescue the Linhay in the village centre and convert it in to a County Park Centre to welcome visitors; develop a programme of volunteering and provide accommodation for long term volunteers on annual placements; renovate the lakes which date from the medieval period and Victorian ornamental planting around them; improve the visitor experience with a programme of events and activities in the park. All this has been achieved. https://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/cockington/funding-appeal
The Green Flag Awards Scheme
The Green Flag Awards Scheme (http://greenflagaward.org/) is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.
Keep Britain Tidy
Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity. We inspire people to be litter-free, to waste less and to live more. We are run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org
Any green space that is accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag Award status. A Green Flag Community Award recognises quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. Green Heritage Site accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s historic features and the standard of conservation.
Press enquiries
Marketing Officer: Sarah James 01803 696253 sarah.james@countryside-trust.org.uk
