Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 24 October 2021
TWO PARKS in Hinckley have officially been named amongst the best in the UK after they were both awarded a highly-coveted Green Flag Award each.
Hinckley’s Argents Mead and Hollycroft Park are two of 1,127 sites across the UK to have secured Green Flag Awards, which is a prestigious accolade, as they are only handed out to the ‘very best’ parks and green spaces across the UK.
Argents Mead
Argents Mead, located next to Hinckley town centre, has collected its fifth Green Flag Award, recognising the Borough Council’s ‘substantial’ investment in the park over the course of recent years.
Hollycroft Park
And in a double accolade, Hollycroft Park has been awarded another flag, for the extraordinarily impressive total of twelve years in a row, showing that Hollycroft’s ‘environmental excellence’ has been noticed by bosses of the scheme.
The ‘Green Flag Award’ scheme is celebrating its Silver Jubilee and is managed by Keep Britain Tidy – an environmental charity under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The scheme recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting their ‘benchmark’ standard for their management across the United Kingdom and worldwide.
The award is a sign that indicates to the public that the boasts the ‘highest possible’ environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
Coun. Bill Crooks, Executive Member for Street Scene, Services, Parks and Open Spaces for the Borough Council, stated that the award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining the award-winning town parks.
He explained: “This award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining Argents Mead and Hollycroft Park to such a high standard.
“Thanks are due to the staff at the council, and in particular, the Friends of Hollycroft Park Group, for their dedication and hard work that has helped Hollycroft Park to get this much deserved award once again.”
Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd, congratulated everyone involved in making the parks worthy of winning the awards.
He said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making these two parks worthy of a Green Flag Award.
“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that these two Hinckley parks have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.”