SalfordOnline

Salford City Council has retained five Green Flag Awards - recognising the high standards in four of the city's parks and one cemetary.

Both Clifton and Blackleach Country parks have Green Flags as do Victoria and Winton Park and Peel Green Cemetary.

Salford Council's Environment team has worked together with the help of regular volunteers to enhance the outdoor spaces and ensure that five Green Flags were upheld for another year.

Volunteers and Rangers have added new footpaths and steps to Clifton Country Park as well as planting wildflowers in the woodland.

In Blackleach Country Park new ponds have been established and in Winton Park a bird feeding station has been added.

The national Green Flag Awards judges were paticularly impressed with the outdoor events and nature conservation programme operated by Salford City Council.

There are almost 100 volunteers who help out year round, with regular groups of up to ten people assisting each week in Clifton and Blackleach Country parks.

Friends groups also continue to be a great support on all sites, attending on judging days, running events and helping to raise funding for the parks.

Cllr Gena Merrett, Assistant Mayor for Housing and Environment: "Well done and thank you to everyone for their dedication in looking after our green spaces for the whole community to enjoy. The Green Flag Awards are a great accolade to the hard work that is carried out year after year."

Source: Salford Council.

Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member )  20th July 2012 gratitude*

Comment by yestomayor Salford ( member )  20th July 2012 I am aware of some volunteers who help out at Clifton Country Park also known as Clifton Nature Reserve (formerly Lancashire County Council). I have seen at first hand the hard work they commit to these projects making wonderful benches and other things which I certainly take advantage of. I see many awards in communities, no doubt for worthwhile causes but I challenge many to beat the graft and dedication and physical work that is required on occasions to keep Country Parks in good shape for all to enjoy. I hope the Council does really appreciate their efforts by ensuring their gratituse is personally given to each of these groups because it is well deserved. Michael Moulding, Deputy Leader, Community Action Party