Today, Ulverston’s Ford Park has once again been recognised by the Green Flag Award Scheme as one of the very best – for the seventh consecutive year.

In a record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award, as the scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, Ford Park is one of 2,127 celebrating success as winners were announced today.

After 18 months that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that Ford Park has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make the green space a great space that everyone can enjoy.

Staff and volunteers at the park are delighted with news of the award, which is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces.

Catherine Elliott, Volunteer Team Leader at Ford Park, said: “We are thrilled to receive our seventh consecutive Green Flag Award – it is such a fantastic achievement.

“We know how much quality green spaces matter to people and this has been particularly evident during the pandemic and periods of lockdown. It has been wonderful to be able to provide an accessible, spacious area for all the community to use for fresh air, exercise and meeting people safely and we hope everyone continues to enjoy the park.

“This award helps to recognise the hard work and dedication of staff and volunteers at Ford Park, who are here in all weathers to ensure the place is maintained to an award-winning standard and as an important resource for the local community.”

Run by the charity Ford Park Community Group, the park offers green open space for people to enjoy, alongside nature trails, a children’s playground, walled garden, arboretum and plant nursery.

Commenting on the news that Ford Park has achieved the Green Flag Award standard, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Ford Park worthy of a Green Flag Award.

“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure that Ford Park has high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.”

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.