Watford celebrate Green Flag Award success

Twelve parks and green spaces across Watford have been named among the best in the country by the Green Flag Award scheme for 2018.

The Green Flag Awards Scheme is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, and it recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces across the UK.

Watford Borough Council and Veolia, who manage the parks in Watford, have added Harwoods Recreation Ground to the town’s existing haul of Green Flags – which is more than any other district in Hertfordshire for the third year running.

Watford’s award-winning parks and green spaces are:

• Cassiobury Park
• Cheslyn House and Garden
• Woodside Playing Fields
• North Watford Playing Fields (Orchard Park)
• St Marys Churchyard
• Paddock Road Allotments
• Oxhey Park
• Waterfields Recreation Ground
• Callowland Recreation Ground
• Goodwood Recreation Ground
• North Watford Cemetery
• Harwoods Recreation Ground

Elected Mayor of Watford Peter Taylor said: ‘This is excellent news for everyone who lives, works and visits Watford. North Watford Playing Fields (Orchard Park) scored especially high this year as did Waterfields Recreation Ground, Oxhey Park and Cassiobury Park.

‘We are delighted to have set a new Green Flags record for Watford which is the highest in Hertfordshire. This adds to the Horticulture Week Custodian Award that Cassiobury Park recently picked up for Best Park Restoration Project.

‘For many years we have invested in Watford’s parks and green spaces so that everyone is able to enjoy them. These awards are well deserved recognition for the hard work of volunteers and staff at Watford Borough Council and Veolia to maintain our green spaces to a very high standard.’

Darren Harding, senior contract manager at Veolia said: ‘With the very harsh winter and a particularly wet start to the year, the management of the parks to the highest standard has been particularly challenging. I would like to thank all colleagues at Watford Borough Council, Veolia staff, volunteers and friends groups, who, despite the challenges, worked very hard to ensure that 2018 is another record-breaking year for Watford’s Parks.’