A GREEN FLAG FOR UPTON!

 Upton Country Park has again been awarded a prestigious Green Flag, recognising it as one of best open spaces in the country.

The Green Flag Award is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales.  

Independent judges assessed Upton Country Park on a number of criteria, including management, maintenance, health and safety, conservation and heritage, community involvement and how welcoming the park is to visitors.

 Upton Country Park is managed by Borough of Poole and offers more than 100 acres of woodland, parkland and shoreline which is open and free to the public all year round.

 Judges were given a tour of the estate surrounding the historic Grade II listed Upton House, home to a host of animal and plant life, including the rare and exotic Puya plant from Chile. They were also shown around the visitor facilities and saw how staff maintain the park’s historical and natural features. 

 The park’s newest attraction, a series of specially created orienteering walks set up in partnership with Wessex Orienteering Club, was well received by the judges, as were the plans for the restoration of an historic walled garden which dates back almost 250 years. 

 Judges were particularly impressed with the park’s Peacock Tearooms, which provides valuable catering training and opportunities to a national standard for people with disabilities. 

 Nick Woods, Leisure Services Ranger, said: “We are all delighted to receive the Green Flag award. The park has so many unique features and is extremely popular all year round. My team works hard with the Friends of Upton Country Park to make sure that the park is run to the highest of standards and this was recognised by the judges when they visited. The feedback we have received is extremely positive. The recommendations help us to plan for the improvements needed to continue the development of the park for all its visitors.”

 Cllr Peter Adams, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure, said: "This award is welcome recognition for all the staff and volunteers from the Friends group who work so hard to make Upton Country Park such a special place. The award means that Upton Country Park can fly its own Green Flag confident in the knowledge that it is among the best managed parks in the country.” 

Green Flag judges, who visited Upton Country Park in May, praised staff and volunteers for their work in a number of areas.

Judges highlighted the success of the park’s orchard area which is on the site of the orchard that would have served the kitchens in Upton House when previous families lived there. A few of the original trees survived but replanting has taken place using many west country varieties such as Bryanston Gage Plum or Dabinett’s apple.

Staff at Upton Country Park were commended for their commitment and knowledge of the estate, which was praised for being clean and litter free. Volunteers from the Friends of Upton Country Park group were also recognised for raising more than £750,000 towards the upkeep of the park.

Judges said improvements to the park could include the introduction of composting, recycling and energy saving measures.

Upton Country Park’s was awarded its first green flag in 2003. This year is the first time since then that the Park has applied for the award.

The prestigious national award scheme for parks is run by the Civic Trust and recognised by the Department of Communities and Local Government, English Heritage and Natural England, as the standard parks and open space should aim for.

 The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country.

 For more information on the award criteria visit: http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk or contact the wardens office on 01202 672625 or email ranger@uptoncountrypark.org.

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