Tanners Lane Embankment in Golborne has once again been recognised as one of the best-kept green spaces in the country, retaining its Green Flag Community Award for another 12 months.
The site, at the back of Golborne Library, is looked after by local volunteer group Golborne in Bloom, whose efforts have once again been rewarded in this year’s list.
And getting a Green Flag isn’t easy. It’s managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy and 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. As a result, you’ll often see the Green Flag flying proudly in the best parks and green spaces across the country.
The Green Flag Community Award, given to Golborne In Bloom, recognises places where people have come together to make the area a more attractive, welcoming place. It looks for publicly accessible places that are safe, well maintained and make good use of the local biodiversity, landscape and heritage.
And, if you’ve been in Golborne lately you will certainly have seen the hallmarks of their work… they are the green fingered group behind the beautifully maintained Golborne Library’s gardens; the floral displays around the Charles Napier and in Peter Kane Square, as well as the lush planting on the embankment.
Golborne in Bloom have had support from local businesses, including Murphy, as well as Wigan Council and other local organisations.
Thanks to Golborne in Bloom, Golborne is one of seven green spaces across Wigan Borough to be flying a Green Flag this year. The others recognised were Alexandra Park in Newtown, Central Park in Atherton, Jubilee Park in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Mesnes Park in Wigan and Pennington Hall Park in Leigh. Colliers Corner in Howe Bridge, cared for by The Bridgers community group, also retained its Green Flag Community Award.
Cllr Chris Ready, Wigan Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods at Wigan Council, said: “A lot of effort goes into keeping them looking their best all year round, so I’d like to say a massive thank you to all our parks teams, volunteers and community groups for all their hard work and dedication.”
He added: “We take great pride in our parks and green spaces here in Wigan Borough, so we’re delighted to see that hard work and passion has been recognised once again. Our parks are so important to our communities. As places to relax, socialise and be active, they can have a major positive impact on our health and wellbeing.”
Cllr Yvonne Klieve & Peter Shrader from Murphy raise the Green Flag Community Award at Golborne Library.
Now in its 30th year, the Green Flag Scheme is the internationally recognised standard for parks and green spaces. This year, a record 2,391 sites across the UK made the list, including Green Flag Community Awards for quality sites managed by voluntary and community groups. The Bridgers were joined by council officers and volunteers from the Friends of Atherton Parks group at an awards ceremony at The Lowther Pavilion in Lytham St Anne’s.
The news comes as the council’s Be Well service gears up for Love Parks Week, running from Thursday, 24 July to Sunday, 2 August, with free parks activities on offer across the borough including tennis, pickleball, bowls, petanque, foot golf, disc golf, park gym and women’s football, plus several “walk and talk” groups.
Cllr Ready said: “Be Well has fun free parks activities all through summer and, if you’ve never tried them before, Love Parks Week is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and get involved. You’ll find there’s a little something for everyone, and it’s all about fresh air, fun and friendship.”
Free sessions can be booked via the Be Well app or the online booking site. For more information, visit bewellwigan.org/parks.