Woodbridge Town Council Press Release 17 July 2008

Elmhurst Park has won the prestigious Green Flag award for the seventh year running.

The historic Elmhurst Park in the heart of Woodbridge is celebrating, once again, after being included in the list of winners of the 2008/2009 Green Flag Award - the national standard for parks and green spaces - announced today by the Civic Trust.

This is the seventh year running that the Park, owned and maintained by Woodbridge Town Council, has won this award - the only Town Council park in England and Wales to have achieved this number.

The Town Mayor, Councillor Les Binns, commented that he was delighted that the Park was included in the list of winners and the renewal of this prestigious award makes Elmhurst one of the top 500 parks in England and Wales. He said he felt this award was all the more prestigious for Woodbridge, as the Town Council being a small organisation (with 4 directly employed staff) had consistently competed, and won against much bigger parks and organisations.

There are eight criteria which Green Flag Award judges assess – a welcoming place; healthy, safe and secure; well maintained and clean; sustainability; conservation and heritage; community involvement; marketing; and management.

Following on from the judges visit, they commented in their report “that the Park is maintained and managed to a high standard by committed and knowledgeable staff, the Town Council has a park of which they are justifiably proud and it is most certainly a Jewel in the Crown of Woodbridge, once again the judges have no hesitation in awarding Elmhurst a Green Flag Award”.

The judges were also most impressed that a “Friends” Group has formed with the view to them becoming involved in the long-term management and maintenance of the Park.

For further details of the Park or how to join the Friends Group,
telephone the Town Clerk on 01394 383599
or email chris@woodbridge-suffolk.gov.uk