Linslade Wood is one of three open spaces in Central Bedfordshire to be recognised as some of the best community-run green spaces in the country in the National Green Flag Awards 2014/15.
Linslade Wood, Studham Common and Flitton Moor have all been awarded with the Community Award for managing and improving the sites for everyone to enjoy, visit, appreciate and use as green spaces for healthy activities and quiet enjoyment.
The sites are also carefully managed to help improve them for wildlife and biodiversity. All three sites are managed by the council, with invaluable help from ‘Friends of’ groups who run work parties, fund raising activities, educational and guided walks and other events.
Councillor Brian Spurr said: “This is really fantastic news and our thanks go to the ‘Friends of’ groups who have put in so much work to achieve this accolade. Our own Countryside Access team oversee the parks and offer advice, tools, training and support through management plans and so on but we can’t accept these awards without acknowledging the hard graft that many local people put in too.”
Ken Barry, from Friends of Linslade Woods, added: “We are delighted that Linslade Woods has once again received the Green Flag Award. It provides recognition of all the hard work of the many volunteers and the Greensand Trust staff who have put so much time and effort into looking after the woods throughout the year. Green spaces such as Linslade Woods provide a much needed refuge for wildlife as well as being essential for the health and wellbeing of the local community. We in the Friends Group are all very pleased that this has been recognised once again with this Award.”
The Green Flag Awards are judged by an army of more than 700 volunteer experts who visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including biodiversity, access, cleanliness, sustainability and community involvement.
For a full list of countryside sites that the council manages, visit www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/countryside and see where you could go this summer.