Today, parks and green spaces across the country will be 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 St Andrew’s Cemetery in Hexham, which is raising a Green Flag Award for the third time.
Tonight Hexham Abbey will be joining buildings and landmarks across the country, including the White Cliffs of Dover at Samphire Hoe, the London Stadium in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Salford’s Media City, going green for parks to celebrate Hexham Town Council’s Green Flag Award success and to say a massive thank you to the staff, volunteers and the Green Flag Award Judges for all their work this year.
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.
St Andrew’s Cemetery, Hexham is one of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2020.
Bob Hull, Mayor of Hexham said today, “I am delighted that the Town Council has been awarded a Green Flag for St Andrews Cemetery for a third year in succession. It is a tribute to the dedication and hard work of Steven English and his staff who have maintained the cemetery grounds to very high standard particularly during the difficult conditions this year. I am delighted too that we are able to mark this by turning the Abbey green to celebrate the award.”
Commenting on Hexham Town Council’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, Hexham Town Council has achieved the highest international standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”