Double Green Flag success for Rugby Borough Council parks 

Caldecott Park and Centenary Park were honoured at the Green Flag Award ceremony for the Midlands and East of England, which was held in Nottingham on Monday 18 July.

The Green Flag Awards, organised by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, aim to raise standards in parks and green spaces across the country, promoting well-maintained and well-managed parks with excellent facilities.

Judges assess each park put forward for the award against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.

Cllr Lisa Parker, Rugby Borough Council portfolio holder for sustainable environment, said: "I'm delighted at Rugby’s double success in the Green Flag Awards, and at Caldecott Park’s ninth consecutive award.

"It's a great tribute to the hard work of our parks team, volunteers and residents, who all play a part in making our parks places we can be proud of.”

Paul Todd, International Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: “We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, especially as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Awards. 

“All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”

Centenary Park was redesigned, refurbished and renamed earlier this year, and is located on part of the old Parkfield Road allotment site. It was reopened in March 2016, with the work funded by grants from the Landfill Communities Fund, WREN, Veolia Environment Trust and SITA Trust.

Working with Newbold-on-Avon Community Partnership, the council finalised a blueprint for the park, including plans for a play area, outdoor gym, wildlife zones, nature play trail, picnic area, sensory garden and a butterfly bank.

Caldecott Park, in Rugby town centre, is visited more than half a million times each year and hosts events such as open air theatre, live bands, and a half marathon. It recently became a must visit destination in the gaming app Pokémon Go.