The Mere and Severn Valley Country Park in the running for UK’s favourite park title

Two countryside sites owned and managed by Shropshire Council are in the running to be named the nation’s favourite park in the Green Flag Award People’s Choice awards 2018.

The Mere at Ellesmere and Severn Valley Country Park at Highley and Alveley are amongst 1,883 parks and green spaces in the UK that were awarded the prestigious, international Green Flag Award earlier this summer.

Now from Saturday 1 September 2018 until noon on Sunday 30 September 2018 people have the chance to vote for their favourite Green Flag site– at www.greenflagaward.org.

The winner of the People’s Choice award 2018 will be announced in October.

The Mere is a beautiful lake with gardens, woodland walks and historic parkland. The Mere-side promenade, gardens and the Boathouse café and restaurant have recently been restored to their former glory. The Cremorne Gardens offers a fantastic adventure play area, flower beds, specimen trees, lawns and seating, and a garden walk. The park provides a number of themed walks which encourage the exploration of the park, provides interpretation of its heritage and makes links with Ellesmere town, the Llangollen Canal and surrounding countryside.

The Mere at Ellesmere

Severn Valley Country Park is in a wonderful rural setting along one of the most beautiful stretches of the River Severn. It offers paths, cycle paths and bridleways, guided walks, activities for children, a visitors centre and café. There’s a playground and picnic benches and an easy access trail designed especially for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Severn Valley Country Park

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“Both of these sites offer wonderful views, fantastic facilities and a great day out for all the family, so I’m delighted that both were awarded a Green Flag once again this year.

“It would be brilliant for Shropshire if one of these sites were to be named the nation’s favourite park, so I encourage everyone to vote.

“I would like to thank all the dedicated staff and volunteers for their hard work in maintaining such wonderful parks. This is a great example of how Shropshire Council can work alongside volunteers and local communities to enable them to make a real difference to their local area.”

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award manager said:

“The People’s Choice award is a chance to show how much your favourite park means to you. If it’s worth shouting about, make your voice heard and vote.”

To vote for The Mere or Severn Valley in the People’s Choice awards, from 1 to 30 September go to www.greenflagaward.org, select the West Midlands region on the interactive map, select The Mere or Severn Valley, and click the ‘vote for this site’ button.

Further information

1. Keep Britain Tidy is a leading environmental charity that cares for the environment on your doorstep. We set the standard for the management of parks and beaches, work to eliminate littering, reduce waste and improve public space. We run programmes including Eco-Schools, the Green Flag Award for parks and green spaces and the Blue Flag/Seaside Awards for beaches. To find out more about Keep Britain Tidy, our programmes and campaigns visit www.keepbritaintidy.org

2. The Green Flag Award Scheme www.greenflagaward.org is run by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, under licence from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful, Keep Wales Tidy and Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

3. Last year’s top 10 People’s Choice winners were

Arlington Square Gardens – Arlington Association
Cassiobury Park – Watford Borough Council
Clifton Park – Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Margam Park – Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Millennium Country Park – Forest of Marston Vale Trust
Saltwell Park – Gateshead Council
Strathaven Park – South Lanarkshire Council
The Wilderness Lake Porthcawl – Bridgend County Borough Council
Warley Woods – Warley Woods Community Trust
Whiteknights – University of Reading