Beauty spot ‘Oscars’ see four accolades for Erewash

Victoria Park, Ilkeston (Credit: EBC)

Erewash is celebrating a quadruple triumph in awards that are held each year to salute the nation’s most outstanding public spaces – with one of its much-loved parks scooping two of the “Oscars”.

The haul of four government-backed accolades saw Ilkeston’s Victoria Park honoured twice. One of the gongs is for the care that goes into making it a pleasure to visit – and is called a Green Flag Award.

The other is a Green Heritage Site Accreditation for how its historic features have been managed and promoted – and is one of just 12 handed out across the East Midlands. It puts the treasured urban haven in the same league as Newark Castle Gardens, Wollaton Park and Nottingham’s Victoria Embankment.

A third local gong went to volunteers who maintain the Long Eaton Community Garden – which recently won a £1,180 council Fast Funding community grant to improve access to its wildlife pond. Members of its “friends” group were jubilant as their hard work at the thriving miniature Eden in Norfolk Road was marked with what is called a Green Flag Community Award.

Meanwhile the Erewash Canal also clinched a Green Flag in tribute to the tireless efforts of the Canal & River Trust.

The awards are run by an environmental charity – Keep Britain Tidy – on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. They recognise and reward well-managed parks and beauty spots for being beacons to others across the UK and around the world. The charity describes each of the accolades as “a fantastic testament to hard work, passion and dedication”.

Keep Britain Tidy’s award manager Paul Todd MBE said: “Parks are essential public spaces that support our wellbeing, our communities and our economy. Yet for millions of people, particularly in the most deprived areas, local parks simply don’t feel safe or welcoming.

“With public services under pressure, investing in parks is not a luxury, it’s a practical, preventative solution and one of the most visible ways to improve people’s quality of life.

“Erewash Borough Council has shown what can be achieved when parks are properly supported and managed. As we celebrate 30 years of the Green Flag Award, we want every community to have access to green spaces like this that are safe, welcoming and maintained to a high standard. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

The borough council has been keen to get even more people using Victoria Park – and recently completed installing 26 heritage-style lights to make it more welcoming after dusk. The nearby Rutland Sports Park has also been freshly illuminated – thanks to a total of £166,000 in government funding for the two projects.

Cllr Mark Alfrey, who is the council’s Lead Member for Environment, said ahead of national Love Parks Week being launched on Friday 24th July: “Erewash is rightly proud of its fantastic green spaces. The two awards for Victoria Park are a tribute to the dedication of our amazing green spaces teams. I also congratulate the volunteers behind Long Eaton Community Garden – and thank the Canal & River Trust for all that they do in our borough.”

The charity that issues the accolades also runs Blue Flag Awards for beaches. To find out more visit www.keepbritaintidy.org.