Riverside Park has regained its Green Flag – the mark of a quality park or green space.
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Riverside last held a Green Flag Award in 2008/09, and Doug Perry, chair of Friends of Riverside Park, described regaining it as “a great honour”.
The award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, and judged by an army of more than 700 green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.
Mr Perry, left, took a tour of the park with Green Flag judges to show them the parkland, and said they were interested not only in the efforts made by the Friends and permanent groundsman to keep it tidy, but also in Riverside's wildlife and history.
“It's absolutely beautiful!”
“Where else do you get a mile and a half of river to walk along in a city? From Cobden Bridge to Mansbridge, it's absolutely beautiful. And all we want is for all people to keep it tidy.” said Mr Perry, referring to recent incidents of damage and litter.
“We have a team of dog walkers who go out every day litter picking. We keep it tidy. And I walked with the judges and gave them a little bit of history, because I've lived in Bitterne Park for 80 years, and I've seen it come from marshlands to what it is now.”
Tireless
Bitterne Park councillor Ivan White commented: “The award of the Green Flag is important in recognising not only the work done by the City in the park, but the Friends of Riverside Park who work tirelessly to improve the Park for the residents of Bitterne Park and the City as a whole.”
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International Green Flag Award scheme manager Paul Todd said: "We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme. All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award."
Other green spaces which won Green Flag status in Southampton were Hinkler Green in Thornhill, St James' Park in Shirley and Mansel Park in Millbrook.
The full list of parks in the UK achieving the Green Flag Award is here.
For more information and to join The Friends of Riverside Park see their website.
