Parndon Wood Nature Reserve, Harlow Town Park and Harlow Museum Walled Gardens have all once again received Green Flag Awards, placing them among the best green spaces in the world.
It is Parndon Wood’s 14th consecutive award, the Town Park’s seventh in a row and the Museum Garden’s third.
In addition to these three fantastic sites, the town has further cause to celebrate this year. Previously, Harlow Mill has enjoyed Green Flag status – this year, the award has been extended to encompass the entire Stort Navigation area, which covers 22km. This is a major achievement for those who care for this area and another feather in the cap for Harlow as a whole.
Over 2,200 UK parks and green spaces have received the prestigious Green Flag Award this year from environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. The awards recognise and reward well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the United Kingdom and around the world.
The Town Park and Harlow Museum Walled Gardens are maintained by council staff, HTS and volunteers. Parndon Wood Nature Reserve is maintained by council staff and volunteers and ECCO. Harlow Mill is maintained by the Canal & River Trust and local volunteers.
Councillor Nicky Purse, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment, said:
“This is brilliant news for our town. I am so proud to see the council’s Town Park, Museum and Walled Gardens, and Parndon Wood retaining their Green Flag Awards keeping their places as one of our best-kept green spaces.
“It’s also been great news for the Canal and River Trust with the Harlow Mill Green Flag extending to the Stort Navigation, so my congratulations to them.
“These areas are all vital green space for our community here in Harlow. These awards are testament to all teamwork between volunteers and paid staff, who do so much to ensure that the highest possible standards demanded by the Green Flag Award are maintained. My sincere thanks to everyone involved in achieving these awards – it’s because of you that we have reason to be so proud of our green spaces.”
