Green Flag bid for Ham Woods

This year for the first time Ham Woods nature reserve will be considered for a Green Flag Award.

Each year Plymouth City Council submits entries for each green space to be considered for a Green Flag.

The Green Flag Awards are the national standard of excellence for parks and green spaces. Plymouth currently holds six Green Flag Awards for parks and green spaces including, Hoe Park, Freedom Fields and Devonport Park.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication by Friends of Ham Wood and All Saints Church of England Academy, the Council feels that this year the nature reserves at Ham Woods stands a very good chance of being awarded a prestigious Green Flag.

Ahead of judging which will take place in May, Council Leader Councillor Tudor Evans and Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Brian Vincent, have been helping pupils from All Saints Church of England Academy plant bulbs; bulbs which should be in full bloom when the judges arrive.

Council Leader Tudor Evans said: “Everyone has done a fantastic job with Ham Woods over the last few years and the number of people visiting and using the space has increased dramatically. They should be very proud of what they have achieved here and I believe Ham Woods nature reserve is a deserving winner of a Green Flag.”

The Green Flag scheme recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country. It is also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards and creates a benchmark of excellence in green spaces.

To meet the Green Flag Award standard the judges are looking for green spaces to be healthy welcoming places that are safe and secure, clean, well-maintained and sustainable. The management of the green space must involve the community, pay attention to conservation and heritage and include marketing of the site.

Plymouth’s green spaces will be judged in May and any Green Flags will be awarded in June / July.