Parks and gardens in Teignbridge secure the coveted Green Flag status.
Teignbridge has scooped four Green Flag awards for its parks – and for the first time ever Homeyards Botanical Gardens in Shaldon is flying the coveted flag.
The awards, which recognise the best green spaces in the country, have been given to Decoy Country Park and Courtenay Park, Newton Abbot, and The Den, Teignmouth, and Homeyards in Shaldon.
Homeyards is on the hillside above Shaldon and enjoys views of Teignmouth across the river. The garden was created in the late 1920s by Maria ‘Laetitia’ Kempe Homeyard and features a castle (which can be hired), pond and rill garden and an Italianate garden.
In 2015 Homeyards Botanical Gardens received £317,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £40,000 Viridor Credits Funding to renovate the castle and Italianate rockeries. The gardens also have a long established Friends Group that helps look after this special place.
Cllr Andrew MacGregor, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive Portfolio Holder for Sport, Recreation and Culture said: “We are thrilled to retain those awards and delighted that Homeyards has secured its first Green Flag. The awards are evidence of our commitment to providing fantastic places and is testament to the hard work put in by our parks teams and volunteer groups to maintain and improve our sites and keep them in great condition.
“All our parks are wonderful places where families can have picnics, people can relax with friends, explore the wildlife or flora and fauna or use the different play areas on offer. Our Rangers offer a programme of family-friendly activities that people can get involved in too.”
International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said:
“It’s fantastic that we have more Green Flag Awards in the UK than ever before, joined this year by 131 International winners.”
“Each flag honours the thousands of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award. We congratulate each and every winner on their fantastic achievement.”
The Green Flag scheme is the national benchmark for quality parks, and is run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy. Awards are given annually, with winners re-applying to renew their Green Flag Status and each park is judged on a set of strict criteria including its sustainability and how it serves the community.
The awards, now celebrating its 21st year, recognise and rewards the best parks and green spaces across the country. A Green Flag flying overhead is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible standards, are beautifully maintained and has excellent facilities.
The announcement comes shortly after Teignbridge’s beaches were recognised as Blue Flag and Seaside Award winners with Teignmouth Town Beach gaining Blue Flag status for the first time ever.
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