Green Flag awards for Gloucester’s Robinswood and Saintbridge by | Gloucester News Centre - http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/
Two local groups have received the prestigious Green Flag Award for maintaining and enhancing publicly accessible parks.
Friends of Saintbridge Pond and the Saintbridge Allotments and Gardens Association will receive their first Green Flag award on Wednesday 16 August at 11am.
Robinswood Hill Country Park will be awarded a Green Flag for their second successive year on Friday 18 August at 2pm.
Cllr Richard Cook, said: “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.”
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.
Saintbridge balancing pond and allotments consist of a wet balancing pond and ‘dry pond’ overflow storage area that covers 9 hectares (22 acres) in total.
The balancing ponds serve as a large flood storage structure and well-loved wildlife amenity area for local residents. The largest allotment site in the city is also located next to the balancing pond.
Rugby posts are installed in the open space to celebrate Gloucester being a host city to the Rugby World Cup in 2015.
Robinswood Hill Country Park will receive its second Green Flag Award for the joint efforts of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Robinswood Hill Country Park Rangers and The Friends of Robinswood Hill. These groups have worked together to enhance the park.
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was founded in 1961. In 50 years the trust has grown and now has over 500 active volunteers and 27,000 members. The trusts ambition is to preserve, recreate and reconnect people with Gloucestershire’s wild places.
Friends of Robinswood Hill are an independent society founded in 1975. The volunteer group meet the first Friday of every month to assist rangers with conservation work.
Robinswood hill covers 250 acres (1km2) rising to 198m (650ft) with a millennium beacon and trig point at its peak.
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 well being, positive mental health issues and helping communities connect.
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
