Ref: PR1857
Date: 23/07/08

Two of Wakefield's parks have been named among the best in Britain and will receive the prestigious Green Flag Award this week.

Anglers Country Park and Haw Park Wood, in Wintersett, were judged to be welcoming and well looked-after and have been recognised for their community involvement and conservation efforts of wildlife and flora.

It is the first time Anglers has won the accolade and the second year in a row that Haw Park Wood has retained the honour.

Wakefield Council's Cabinet Member for Environment Cllr Clive Hudson said: "This is great news for the district's parks and open spaces and acknowledges our commitment to improving the area's green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

"Parks are an oasis of calm, have a vital role to play in today's busy lives and are an important part of our communities. Everyone should be able to enjoy great quality parks and green spaces so we are working very hard with local people and community groups across the district to try and ensure parks can meet their needs and help them play an active role in achieving this. Well done to everyone involved in these two awards"

The Green Flag Award, run by The Civic Trust, is the national standard for parks and green spaces and is open to any freely accessible park or green space.

Judges look at whether a park is inviting and gives a positive impression, that it is healthy, safe and secure, clean and well-maintained, and that it is environmentally sound.

Conservation, heritage, community involvement, marketing and management are also important.

Clive added that key to the parks' success was the continued involvement of two community groups - The Friends of Haw Park Wood and the Wintersett Wildlife Group.

The Friends work with the Council regarding site management and hold events at Anglers Country Park, Wintersett Visitor Centre. The Wildlife Group carries out practical conservation work and provides an annual report on wildlife in the area.

Wakefield Council will receive its flags at the Green Flag Award winners' ceremony at the Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre on Thursday 24 July.

Visit the parks at: Anglers Country Park, Haw Park Lane, Wintersett, Wakefield WF4 2EB. Haw Park Wood is next to Anglers.  

Notes:

Anglers Country Park is in beautiful countryside surroundings where wildlife and recreation live side by side. Just 30 years ago, the 64-hectare site was part of one of Europe's deepest open cast mines. The landscape was transformed into a variety of meadowland, wetland and trees, all rich in wildlife. The man-made 30-hectare lake that is central to the park is now an important inland site for over wintering birds.

It is a popular free attraction where 120,000 visitors each year enjoy a real taste of the countryside. The open rolling landscape is ideal for walking, picnicking and bird watching.

The purpose-built Visitor Information Centre provides car parking, cafe and toilet facilities and is the headquarters for the Countryside Ranger service that looks after the park and its visitors. There are interactive educational displays and exhibitions of natural history and sustainable energy. Classroom facilities provide for school visits, talks and meetings. Environmental education continues outdoors - schools visit the park for field study and the Rangers lead guided walks and organise a varied annual events programme.

Anglers Country Park is a designated Site of Scientific Interest and a designated Local Nature Reserve in recognition of it wildlife and educational value.

Haw Park Wood is 73 hectares of ancient woodland as well as a valuable recreational and educational facility, working in partnership with community groups, volunteers and environmental organisations and agencies. It is ideal for walking, cycling and horse riding and the Trans Pennine Trail passes through the southern part of the wood.

There is open access to the entire site though most people keep to the woodland rides and the all weather footpath network. Families and children can safely enjoy the woodland and find out about its wildlife. The Rangers patrol the site and organise an events programme including such events as Bat Evenings, Fungi Foray, and Historical Walks.

The woodland is designated a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Scientific Interest to reflect its wildlife and educational value. Once part of the much larger Don Forest of the 1600s the woodland has changed greatly in the last 100 years. It is gradually being restored back to predominantly native broadleaf species to reflect its ancient status and attract more wildlife.