SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Green Flag awards for country parks

THE Ham Hill County Park, Yeovil Country Park and Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve in South Somerset are some of the very best in the UK – and that’s official.

The sites are among a record-breaking 1,686 parks and green spaces that have received a prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space.

The award, now celebrating its 20th year, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

South Somerset District Council’s countryside team is really pleased that again the Green Flag judges have recognised the high quality of our largest greenspaces here in South Somerset.

PHOTO - TOP: Yeovil Country Park.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Ham Hill Country Park.

The exceptional delivery, events, heritage protection and wildlife conservation at our countryside sites is down to a community based approach. Site based rangers work on a daily basis with practical volunteers who annually donate many thousands of hours delivering conservation land management tasks like woodland management and dry stone walling.

This coupled with tireless fundraising and project management by the three Friends groups has seen another year of award winning greenspaces delivered for the residents, visitors and wildlife of South Somerset.

PHOTO - RIGHT: The Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve.

The council’s leisure and culture spokesman, Cllr Sylvia Seal, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for our three sites from Keep Britain Tidy.

“This Award recognises and highlights that people in South Somerset are benefitting from a green space of the very highest quality.”

The Chard Countryside Day was held on Saturday, July 16, 2016, and was the best event for many years. Hundreds of residents turned out to get involved in the free family activities including bug hunting, craft activities, pond dipping, and forest school activities.

This coming Sunday (July 24, 2016), Ham Hill Country Park hosts the annual Fun Dog Show from 10am at the Stone Circle area of the Country Park. There will be 11 different dog classes arranged throughout the day for all different types of dogs to enjoy. Find out more information at www.southsomerset.gov.uk/fundogshow.

National Playday comes to Yeovil Country Park on Wednesday, August 3, 2016, from 10am when thousands of people will visit the green flag award winning site. The annual National Playday event is organised and funded by the Community Health & Leisure team at South Somerset District Council and offers a huge variety of activities and experiences for children and young people across South Somerset and beyond.

Find out more about Playdays across South Somerset and the National Playday in August at www.southsomerset.gov.uk/playdays.

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Facebook.

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