NEWS FEED
The prestigious Green Flag award has been awarded to Avon Heath County Park for being one of the most beautiful open spaces in the UK.
It is owned and managed by Dorset County Council and is the county’s largest country park and home to important heathland and its rare wildlife.
The Green Heritage accreditation was given in recognition of achieving a high standard in the management and interpretation of the site.
The criteria for the award includes horticultural standards, cleanliness, community involvement, and maintenance, and are judged by 700 ‘green space experts’ who volunteer their time to visit and evaluate the applicant sites.
Cllr Peter Finney, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment at Dorset County Council, said: “We are extremely proud of gaining the Green Flag award at Avon Heath Country Park.
“This recognition celebrates the extensive hard work of volunteers and staff, which ensures that the park is a place for residents and visitors to enjoy all year round.”
Each year the park welcomes thousands of visitors. The park is open all day (8am until dusk) and Heathland Discovery Centre is open daily between 11am and 4pm.
As well as the Discover Centre, facilities include a cafe, gift shop and barbecue hire. Visitors can enjoy displays and games, information about the park, its habitat and special wildlife, events, family activity trails as well as information about local places of interest.
As well as regular volunteers, Sheiling School, an independent residential school for young people with special educational needs, recently gave a helping hand to improve the flower beds between the car parks.
If you have a few hours to spare, the park is always looking for new volunteers to help maintain the space, with varying jobs for all abilities.
Whether you’re keen to share your practical skills outside on the Country Park or inside the Heathland Discovery Centre, or greeting visitors at the front desk, the rangers would love to hear from you.
The Green Flag awards were first launched in 1996 to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. It is also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve high environmental standards, setting a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.
