Flying the flag for Carlisle

Carlisle’s green spaces judged for national awards

(Date of issue: Wednesday, 19 May 2010)

Preparations are underway to get Hammond’s Pond, Talkin Tarn and St Michael’s churchyard, Stanwix at their blooming best.

The City Council green spaces are aiming to achieve Green Flag awards and will welcome two of their judges tomorrow (Thursday, 20 May). A welcoming party will greet the judges Paul Rabbits and Annie Donnelly at the three locations.

The judging will take place at 10am at Hammond’s Pond; midday at St Michael’s churchyard and 2pm at Talkin Tarn

A group of schoolchildren from Stanwix School; the Vicar from St Michael’s churchyard, Ben Phillips and Secretary of the Friends of St Michael’s churchyard, Margaret Davie will meet the judges at St Michael’s churchyard.

The Green Flag awards are the national standard for parks and green spaces. Hammond’s Pond was one of 917 green spaces across England and Wales to achieve the standard last year and the City Council hopes to repeat the success this year. This is the third year that Stanwix Churchyard has been entered into the competition. This is the first year that Talkin Tarn has been entered into the competition.

Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Environment and Infrastructure, said:

“Hammond’s Pond, Talkin Tarn and Stanwix churchyard are all popular with local residents and provide a haven from daily life. By inviting the Green Flag judges to visit these green spaces we hope to see them both recognised as some of the UK’s best open spaces.”

The Green Flag Award scheme is the national standard for parks and green spaces. It is supported by Communities and Local Government (CLG) and is run by a consortium of Keep Britain Tidy, GreenSpace and BTCV. The scheme recognises the value of green spaces in communities, particularly urban environments, and rewards excellent standards of park management.