Keeping the Green Flag flying
Whitlingham Country Park, the Norwich gateway to The Broads, has won the Green Flag Award for the second year running.
The award is given to the best green spaces in the country and is seen as the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales.
Visiting judges assess welcome, health and safety, security, cleanliness and standard of maintenance, sustainability, community involvement, heritage and conservation, marketing and management. There were over 800 applications nationally.
The judges were particularly impressed by Whitlingham’s new, innovative, and highly successful programme of alternative education and Forest Schools opportunities offered to children who do not thrive in the classroom. Through acquiring practical skills they learn numeracy, literacy, life skills and gain self-esteem.
Professor Kerry Turner, Chair of the Broads Authority, said: “We are delighted the high standards at Whitlingham Country Park have been recognised nationally. It is a wonderful place where people, particularly from the city, can immerse themselves in the great outdoors and try a variety of water and countryside sports. We are grateful to our dedicated band of volunteers, without whose invaluable contribution this wonderful result would not have been possible. We also thank Norfolk Environmental Waste Services (NEWS) for their generous support and helping us to develop and expand facilities in the park.”
The 280 acre country park, on the doorstep of Norwich, was developed from gravel workings and is managed by the Whitlingham Charitable Trust in partnership with the Broads Authority and South Norfolk Council. It has two broads, a beach, woodlands, meadows, easy access footpaths, an Outdoor Education Centre offering sailing, canoeing, windsurfing and other activities and a flint barn housing a visitor centre and cafe.
Woodland survival courses will be held there during National Parks Week - 28 July to 1 August, for 8-15 year-olds. For more information and for details about Whitlingham’s educational opportunities, telephone the Broads Authority at the visitor centre on 01603 617332 or email whitlinghaminfo@broads-authority.gov.uk.
18/07/2008
