The Farnborough Society Open Meeting: Parks & Amenities Working Group Presentation 03/07/2008

David Jennings Working Group Leader for Parks and Amenities Working Group gave a presentation on what had been achieved during the short time since its inception. 

David reiterated yet again, that the group’s priority was still the ambitious target of working towards gaining the prestigious Green Flag Award.

Green Flag Award

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. It's a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country, and is now recognised as a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.

It is realised that all green spaces are different and this diversity is welcomed. Each site is judged on its own merits and suitability to the community it serves.
While the standards for the Green Flag Award are high, each application is considered on its own merits. Every park green space has its own unique character and this is reflected in the assessment process.

Green Flag Award visibly demonstrates to the local community and local councillors a clear improvement to that park or green space.

Regeneration of a park or green space benefits whole communities and raises the profile of a particular area.

Green Flags Awarded

Green Flag started in 1996 and to date over 550 awards have been made across England & Wales. Of which 56 have been awarded in the South East, Hampshire itself having 2 (Queen Elizabeth & Staunton Country Parks). Whilst all around us other councils have attained the Green Flag for their communities, some examples below:

• Frimley Park Lodge – Surrey Heath Borough Council
• Popes Meadow – Bracknell Forest Borough Council
• Sandhurst Memorial Park - Bracknell Forest Borough Council in partnership with Sandhurst Town Council.
• Eastrop Park – Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
• Stoke Park – Guildford Borough Council

Rushmoor Borough Council has to-date not taken up the challenge. I have had a meeting with them, however; as yet, we have not come to a meeting of minds on this. We will just have to keep going back, until we are able to agree on a way forward. So there is still a lot of work to be done.

Christine Osment, Jimmy Noyce and Arwel Jones from the Working Group have surveyed 8 of the local parks to get a feel for what is out there:

• Osborne Road Recreational Ground
• Napier Gardens
• Queens Road Recreational Ground
• King George V Recreational Ground
• Rectory Road
• Grasmere Road
• Ullswater Road
• Cody Road

From the reports that came back, we have some excellent parks and green spaces.

Sharon Busby (who is taking over the role of Working Group Leader) and I, have been looking into setting up competitions within the local schools to produce posters for Dog Fouling (poo) and Littering, within parks, (as a first step on the road to a Green Flag). The winning posters to be placed in parks, obviously Rushmoor Borough Council will need to buy into this, as we will need their consent to put the posters up.  Hopefully they will also provide prizes for the winners.

Therefore, those of you that feel strongly about our Parks, please join us in our ambition of gaining a Green Flag, which will raise the profile of a particular area, for the benefit of the whole community.

To become involved with the Parks & Amenities Working Group please email info@thefarnboroughsociety.org.uk