Green Flag awards picked up for two Hinckley parks – and they’re officially ‘amongst best in UK’

Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 6 August 2022

TWO PARKS in Hinckley are yet again officially among the very best in the UK, after they have both been handed a much-coveted ‘Green Flag’ award each.

Pictured: Coun. Linda Mullaney with Coun. Bill Crooks, Executive Member for Street Scene Services, Parks and Open Spaces, Council Leader, Coun. Stuart Bray, and Green Spaces Team members inside Argents Mead. (Image: HBBC)

Hollycroft Park and Argents Mead have both been awarded the ‘prestigious’ accolade, which is only awarded to the very best parks and green spaces in the UK.

The double accolade sees Hollycroft Park handed its thirteen Green Flag award, whilst Argents Mead has been handed its sixth Green Flag award. They are two of the 2,208 sites across the country to collect the award for the year.

Pictured: Coun. Bill Crooks, Executive Member for Street Scene Services, Parks and Open Spaces, with Council Leader, Coun. Stuart Bray, Green Spaces Team members and Friends of Hollycroft Park representatives. (Image: HBBC)

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by an environmental charity named Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

It recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces across the country, and helps to set the “benchmark standard” for the management of green spaces across the UK and around the world.

The award serves as a sign to the public that the spaces boast the highest possible environmental standards, are beautifully maintained, and have excellent visitor facilities.

Coun. Bill Crooks, the Borough Council’s Executive Member for Street Scene Services, Parks and Open Spaces, said: “After two years that have seen parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise, and meet friends and family safely, the news that Hollycroft Park and Argents Mead have both achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make the green space a great space that everyone can enjoy.

He concluded: “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 be awarded its 13th Green Flag, a fantastic achievement.”

Paul Todd, Accreditation Manager for Keep Britain Tidy, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making these two parks worthy of a Green Flag Award. Both parks play a vital role in providing a green space for the community in Hinckley.

“This award is testament to all the work of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”