Green Flag for 'Plymouth's pocket park'

Plymouth's Moor View Park is now the proud new holder of the prestigious Green Flag, bringing the city’s tally up to five.

The park in Mutley, fondly called 'Plymouth's pocket park', was once a bowling green, but is now a haven for wildlife as well as music lovers, boules fans, families and shoppers from the nearby Mutley Plain.

And it has gone from drab to fab in just a few years, thanks to a major regeneration and restoration initiative between the Friends of Moor View, the Mutley Greenbank Trust and Plymouth City Council.

The prestigious pendant, 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 visitors that the space boasts the highest possible standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.

The Council has also learned this week that the city has retained its four existing Green Flags for the Hoe, West Hoe, Devonport and Freedom Fields Park in Greenbank.

Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Brian Vincent said: "It's a fantastic little park and that's thanks to the efforts of the friends as well as our staff.

"The park is the only one in the city to have a purpose-built music stage, for instance and it's building a reputation for some great community music events. Flowers and grass were planted to encourage specific wildlife, there are boules pitches and an informal children's play area

"We helped the Friends of Moor View Park get off the ground but now they are very much in the driving seat. Their enthusiasm and commitment, together with a clear idea that the park should also be a fun place – is what makes this park so special."

Jeanne Hinton from the Friends said: "We will be celebrating this achievement at our Jazz in the Park event on Friday 2 August from 6.30pm to 8.30pm as part of Love Parks Week. That this is a musical event is appropriate since much of the money raised towards its makeover in 2009 was raised by musical events organised by Planet Mutley, the community group to have the initial vision. We hope many of you will come and celebration on 2 August or join us for boules on the first and third Wednesday of every month at 7pm!"

Facts about the park

• It was created as a bowling green just after the war but in the 1980s, the park was turned into informal public open space.
• The land is owned by Network Rail.
• The space slowly fell into decline, but residents joined forces to try to improve their tiny patch of calm in 2008.
• They received a £20,000 grant from BBC Breathing Spaces which was matched with in-kind support from the Council.
• Friends of Moor View have raised over £25,000 towards restoration work and put on events in partnership with the Council every year since 2008 and support practical gardening work in the park alongside the council.
• Their volunteering work has provided over £75,000 towards the park works since 2008.