Lichfield’s Beacon Park voted one of the ten best Green Flag parks in the UK

Lichfield District Council has shared the exciting news that Beacon Park has been voted by visitors as one of the ten best Green Flag parks in the UK.

The 70-acre open space has been recognised in Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Awards People’s Choice, which was launched in September asking the public to vote for their favourite park from the 2,227 which hold Green Flag accreditation.

Fans of Beacon Park responded in their droves, casting their vote for what is one of Lichfield District’s most popular attractions.

Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Operational Services, Parks and Waste, Councillor Phil Whitehouse, said: “We are delighted with this news. It’s such a prestigious award and we would like to thank everyone who voted for Beacon Park. That visitors consider it to be among the top ten in the UK is simply fantastic.

“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our parks team and groups of volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure that Beacon Park is an attractive and safe place to visit.

“The team work tirelessly on its maintenance and do a wonderful job on the flower displays which draw admiration from our residents and the thousands of visitors who come every year to enjoy this especially beautiful part of the district.”

News that public votes have secured Beacon Park a coveted spot in the top ten best Green Flag parks in the UK comes just months after it was awarded the Green Flag Award in July.

Managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Green Flag is an international quality mark which recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

When making the award Green Flag itself described Beacon Park as ‘a lush oasis spanning over 70 acres, nestled right in the heart of the city. This historic park, dating back to the late 1800s, is a perfect blend of picturesque formal gardens and expansive open spaces, making it an ideal getaway from the urban hustle’.

Following the awards announcement yesterday Green Flag Award manager Paul Todd MBE said: “The People’s Choice awards is our way of helping the public honour all the hard work done by the thousands of parks staff and volunteers up and down the country who work tirelessly to make their parks and green spaces fantastic places that everyone can enjoy.

“Our winning sites represent some of the UK’s hardest working individuals and groups working within our highest quality parks – and this has clearly been recognised and appreciated by the public.

“We believe everyone, wherever they live, should be able to access and enjoy safe, high-quality green space, so achieving this recognition from the public is testament to the tireless work at Beacon Park.

“We want to say a huge congratulations to everyone involved.”

 For more details about the awards and the winners, visit www.greenflagaward.org.