Oldham: where grass is greener

OLDHAM is the tops when it comes to the state of its parks.

The North-West heads the national league for having the biggest number of top-quality parks, and Oldham is the best in the region, with seven Green Flags.

The Green Flag is reserved for the nation’s best parks, with independent judges marking against a strict list of criteria for the coveted accolade.

Baroness Andrews broke the news yesterday, revealing a record-breaking year for the North-West, with 195 Green Flag winners.

A delighted Councillor John McCann, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Parks, said: “It reflects all the hard work done by park staff and volunteers in sometimes very disheartening circumstances.

“There are many times they carry out work and return the morning after only to find it has been destroyed by vandals, and to gain seven green flags is an absolute credit to them.”

Parks must be welcoming and well maintained with the involvement of the local community to meet the standard required by the scheme — now in its 12th year.

Representatives of the nation’s 743 green spaces and parks which hit the mark will pick up the awards at a national ceremony in Liverpool next Thursday.

Oldham’s award winners are the borough’s flagship Alexandra Park, Brownhill Visitor Centre’s nature garden at Dobcross, Chadderton Hall Park, Coalshaw Green Park, Chadderton, Foxdenton Park, Chadderton, High Crompton Park, and Stoneleigh Park, Derker.

Congratulating all whose hard work and dedication had paid off dividends, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Baroness Andrews, said: “In our busy modern lives, parks and green spaces are invaluable as areas where young and old can come together to relax, exercise and play.

“The North West’s parks provide great examples of this and show just how important green spaces can be for everyone as centrepoints of the community.”

The Green Flag scheme is sponsored by a range of agencies including Communities and Local Government, English Heritage, The Countryside Agency and English Nature.