Top marks for Bailiff Bridge Memorial Park
Bailiff Bridge Memorial Park has achieved top marks in the Green Flag Awards for 2012 / 2013 - proving it's one of the best parks in the country.
The Calderdale park, located near Brighouse town centre, scored over 80% in the national award. Less than 1% of parks in England and Wales achieve this prestigious mark.
Bailiff Bridge Memorial Park has retained the Green Flag Award for three years, showing that it has high standards of:
• Community involvement
• Presentation, maintenance and cleanliness
• Health, safety and security
• Environmental sustainability
• Conservation of heritage and nature
• Marketing strategy
• Overall management
Calderdale Council looks after the park in partnership with Bailiff Bridge Community Association (BBCA) and local volunteers and businesses.
The Green Flag judges praised Bailiff Bridge for being:
"A lovely memorial garden to visit. The garden truly provides facilities for all aspects of the community within the area.
"The enthusiasm of the park staff and volunteers from Bailiff Bridge Community Association are second to none.
"Calderdale Council and the BBCA should be proud of what they have achieved; it is a credit to all involved. It was a pleasure judging this site."
Brian Mansfield, Bailiff Bridge Community Association member, said:
"It is with great pride and pleasure that we in the Bailiff Bridge community, in partnership with Calderdale Council, local businesses, residents and volunteers of all ages, have once again secured the Green Flag award for the park. Over many years the community has worked hard to achieve this great honour."
The hard work of the Council and local communities has also earned Green Flag Awards for six other Calderdale parks: Centre Vale Park, Todmorden; Manor Heath Park, Halifax; The Peoples Park, Halifax; Ogden Water Local Nature Reserve, Halifax; Shibden Estate, Halifax; and Wellholme Park, Brighouse. Shibden Estate has also retained its Green Heritage Site accreditation, which recognises high standards in the management and interpretation of sites of historic importance.
Calderdale's total of eight awards is one of the best performances by a local authority in the whole of the Yorkshire and Humber region.
And now people are being urged to vote for the park or green space that they think deserves the title of the nation's favourite.
The People's Choice Award is an annual online vote that gives the public the power to decide which one of the 1,424 parks or green spaces flying the Green Flag Award or Community Award should be named site of the year. To vote, go to www.greenflagaward.org.uk. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 14 October 2012.
Calderdale Council's Cabinet Member for Communities, Cllr Pauline Nash, said:
"Once again, the borough has achieved an impressive selection of Green Flag and Green Heritage Awards.
"This highlights what can be achieved when communities and the Council work together with the same commitment and enthusiasm. It gives us all a great deal of pride to be part of this magnificent achievement.
"I encourage people to vote in the People's Choice Award to give Calderdale's award winning parks the further national recognition they deserve."
For more information about Calderdale's parks and green spaces, please visit the Parks pages on the Council's website.