Following the England’s football team’s achievement of greatly exceeding expectations at the recent World Cup, came the news this week that Warwick District Council has a ‘hat-trick’ of its own, with the announcement that three of the district’s parks have been awarded a Green Flag Award, the international mark of a quality park or green space.

The three parks and open spaces receiving the awards are Jephson Gardens, Oakley Wood and Crackley Woods. This is the twelfth year in a row that Jephson Gardens has received a Green Flag and a second for Oakley Wood, which is owned by the district council and maintained in partnership with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Oakley Wood.  But the real icing on the cake this year is a first Green Flag for Crackley Woods.

The ancient woodland and local wildlife site and nature reserve just north of Kenilworth is jointly managed by Warwick District Council and the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. In recent years much work has been done by both organisations to improve access and the visitor experience.  In addition Crackley Wood has an active volunteer group, which is run by the Trust, who have worked extremely hard to improve and manage the woodland habitats.

Councillor Moira-Ann Grainger, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services at Warwick District Council said:

“To receive three Green Flag Awards from Keep Britain Tidy is a truly outstanding achievement. These awards recognise and highlight that local people and visitors to Warwick District are benefitting from green spaces of the very highest quality. I would like to play tribute to the huge efforts of the Council’s Green Spaces Team, contractors (idVerde) and the great partnership we have with the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. However I don’t believe we could have won these awards without the hard work of the Friends and volunteers who come out in all weathers to assist us in maintaining and improving these wonderful places.”

Karl Curtis, Director of Reserves and Community Engagement at the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust added; “It is a fantastic achievement for both nature reserves to receive the Green Flag award and it emphasises and recognises all the good work that goes into these sites to make them high value places for wildlife and people.  The commitment and effort by the volunteers involved throughout the year really adds value and demonstrates that local people can make a difference and take positive action through the Wildlife Trust.”