Country Parks to fly Green Flags for the 19th consecutive year

Date published: 19th July 2023

North Norfolk District Council is proud to receive the Green Flag Award for Holt Country Park, Pretty Corner Woods and Sadler’s Wood.

The Countryside team have continued to work hard over the last year to ensure the woodlands are well-maintained and are exceptional natural outdoor spaces for everyone to enjoy.

2023 marks the 19^th year that Holt Country Park has received the prestigious Green Flag Award.

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, which has set requirements that parks and green spaces have to meet and improve on each year. These requirements include:

• Excellent park management
• Meeting accessibility requirements
• Must be easily navigable with directional signage and information boards
• Must be a clean space for residents and visitors
• Good litter and waste management
• Providing a healthy, safe and secure environment
• Environmental management
• Community involvement
• Conservation of biodiversity, landscape and heritage

The Council’s green spaces regularly hold community engagement events, where visitors can engage in activities such as tree planting or giveaways, volunteer conservation days and family events.

Colin Brown, Leisure and Locality Services Manager, NNDC, said:

“As a team, we are absolutely delighted to have been awarded three Green Flags once again. It is very important we take this opportunity to recognise the immense amount of work that our ranger team and volunteer groups put into managing these woodlands. I look forward to seeing how we can develop and improve even further in the next 12 months.”

Cllr Liz Withington, portfolio holder for Community, Leisure & Outreach said:

“We are hugely lucky in North Norfolk to have such a beautiful and diverse landscape. This landscape and environment need to be protected and carefully managed to thrive. Achieving green flag status for our open spaces is a recognition of that beneficial management.

“Our green flag spaces are also beneficial to our communities and visitors. Not only do they provide opportunities for physical activity through enjoying the woodlands or volunteering but they are also important for the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors and in particular our mental health. Achieving a green flag reflects the hard work our rangers and volunteers have put in and the benefits for our communities which they much appreciate.”

There are a number of events running throughout the summer holidays at the sites, with events catering for adults, children and families, including orienteering, self-led trails, activity days and creative events such as rock painting and woodcraft animals.

You can find more details on the Holt Country Park page, or book at www.north-norfolk.gov.uk/book