Newark and Sherwood celebrates as four parks are once again recognised as some of the country’s best parks

Posted on: Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Newark and Sherwood District Council is once again celebrating after Newark Castle Gardens, Sconce and Devon Park, Vicar Water Country Park, and Sherwood Heath Cockglode and Rotary Woods are included in the UK winners of the Green Flag Award for another year running.

The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Newark Castle and Gardens has also achieved the much coveted Green Heritage Site Accreditation, an award supported by Historic England, for the management of its historic features.

Councillor Roger Jackson, Portfolio Holder for Cleaner, Safer, Greener at Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Retaining this internationally recognised award for quality parks and green spaces is a fantastic achievement and a true testament to the hard work and commitment that goes into maintaining these spaces around our district.

“All those involved from Park Rangers, Street Scene staff, our Corporate Property team and site managers to the incredible groups of Friends and volunteers are all responsible for this achievement and play a vital role in the continuing preservation of our green spaces that we all love to enjoy.”

Commenting on the news that Newark Castle Gardens, Sconce and Devon Park, Sherwood Heath Cockglode and Rotary Woods, and Vicar Water Country Park have met the Green Flag Award standard, Keep Britain Tidy’s Accreditation Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making these four parks and green spaces worthy of a Green Flag Award.

“Newark Castle Gardens, Sconce and Devon Park, Sherwood Heath Cockglode and Rotary Woods, and Vicar Water Country Park are vital green spaces for the community in Newark and Sherwood. This award is testament to all the hard work of staff and volunteers, who do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

A full list of the 2,208 Green Flag Award-winning parks and green spaces is available here

Find out more about Newark and Sherwood’s parks on the District Council website: https://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/parksandgardens/.