Corby earns its second Green Flag Award

A Corby wood has been hailed as one of the best in Britain after being awarded a Green Flag Award for the ninth year in a row with another well-loved park also making the grade.

Hazel and Thoroughsale Wood retained its Green Flag and to add to the celebrations, this year the town's Coronation Park has been added to the list of green spaces across the country.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for their management across the UK.

Deputy mayor of Corby and woodland champion, Cllr Peter McEwan said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive a Green Flag Award for the ninth consecutive year, and now we have the pleasure of adding Coronation Park to our list of recognised green spaces within the borough.

"It is particularly poignant this year, during a time when green spaces have been more appreciated than ever throughout the lockdown period.

“We know how much quality green spaces matter to residents and visitors, particularly during a year when, due to lockdown restrictions, these areas have been more appreciated than ever. This award celebrates the dedication that goes into maintaining these areas to such a high standard so I would like to give a huge thank you to the staff and volunteers who work hard all year round to ensure residents have a clean and safe place to visit.

Hazel and Thoroughsale Woods and Coronation Park are one of more than 2,000 sites across the country to collect the award for 2020. They are managed by the Corby and Kettering Shared Service Team helped by volunteers from the Friends of Thoroughsale and Hazelwood and the Friends Of Coronation Park Group.

Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton said: “This year, more than ever, our parks and green spaces have been a lifeline and we know that millions of people have used them to relax, meet friends, exercise or simply escape for a short time.

“It is testament to the incredible dedication and hard work of parks staff and volunteers that, despite the challenges that went along with record numbers of visitors, Corby Council has achieved the highest international standards Hazel and Thoroughsale Woods and Coronation Park demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

Keep Britain Tidy sets the standard for the management of parks and beaches and runs programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/ Seaside Awards for beaches.

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