Green Flag success again for Gloucester’s parks

Barnwood Park and Arboretum; Saintbridge Pond and Allotments; and Robinswood Hill have all again been given the seal of approval.

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

Cllr Richard Cook, Leader of Gloucester City Council, said: “We all appreciate our parks and green spaces so much more following the coronavirus lockdowns. Our parks have been a lifeline for many people seeking either somewhere for exercise, fresh air or peace and calm.

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making these parks worthy of a Green Flag Award. These awards are a great recognition of all the volunteer hours and the significant amount of partnership working between many different organisations that make these areas some of the best maintained open spaces in the country.”

Barnwood Park and Saintbridge Pond have both benefited from new wildflower meadows funded through a grant from the EU. 

This year at Saintbridge there was a stunning display of poppies, corncockles and cornflowers.

Further information about the new wildflower meadows are available on the council’s website.

The Friends of Saintbridge Pond are a volunteer group that meets every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month to help restore and preserve the balancing ponds.

Over recent months the council’s ranger service carried out conservation grazing at Robinswood Hill using cattle and goats.

Cattle grazing the hill helps keep down scrub vegetation as well as creates the right conditions allowing wildflowers to flourish. 

The goats are then used to keep vegetation from invading the quarry face, which is a ‘Site of Special Scientific Importance’.

Three groups, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Robinswood Hill Country Park Rangers and The Friends of Robinswood Hill all work together to continue to enhance the park.

The hill facilities include children’s play area, nature reserve, picnic area, café and restaurant. Robinswood Hill is an ideal location for families and young children.

Research shows that access to quality green spaces is vital to tackling obesity, supporting wellbeing, positive mental health issues and helping communities connect.