Award winning Ripon Spa Gardens has continued its winning streak and has been named, for the 14th consecutive time, one of the best green spaces in Britain.
The park, which is set in the heart of the historic city of Ripon, is among a record-breaking 1,476 parks and green spaces that will today receive a prestigious Green Flag Award.
The award, handed out by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, recognises and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.
Ripon Spa Gardens won its first Green Flag Award in 2001 and holds the record for gaining the most green flags in the region. The beautiful park is home to a splendid Victorian bandstand, which hosts concerts on Sunday afternoon’s throughout the summer months, the popular Sun Parlour café, a crazy golf course, a magnificent bowling pavilion, a pristine bowling green, colourful flower displays and many other facilities.
Since winning the 13th Green Flag Award, chainsaw carvings have been created within the gardens depicting characters from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, including Alice, Caterpillar, White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts. Legend has it that the inspiration for the story came from the carvings in Ripon Cathedral.
Another new addition to the gardens has been a flower-filled horse trough, which was originally located at the entrance to Ripon bed, but now occupies a more prominent place within Spa Gardens for both residents and visitors to enjoy.
Councillor Phil Ireland, Harrogate Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Transport & External Affairs, is delighted with this award.
Councillor Phil Ireland said: This 14th Green Flag is a testament to the continued hard work and dedication of the council’s parks team and the ‘Friends of Spa Gardens and Park’, and I would like to thank everyone involved.
They have created a park which is impeccably maintained, with beautiful flower arrangements, an excellent café, a putting course, bowling green and so many other things to see and do. They are quite simply a joy to walk around.
We are absolutely delighted to receive another Green Flag Award from Keep Britain Tidy, which recognises and highlights that people in Ripon are benefitting from a green space of the very highest quality.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: We are delighted to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces.
A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for all the parks managers, staff and volunteers who, through their dedication and hard work, have helped to create these fantastic places for everyone to enjoy.
Quality green spaces are a vital resource for communities and that is why it is so significant that we have given out more awards than ever before.
