Wivenhoe Park wins Green Flag Award for 8th year in a row

The jewel in Essex’s crown, Wivenhoe Park, has been awarded the Green Flag Award for an eighth successive year in recognition of its status among the country’s best outdoor spaces.

Parks and green spaces across the world which set the benchmark for upkeep and management are recognised through the award, which provides recognition to the teams who work tirelessly to maintain and improve outdoor spaces.

Wivenhoe Park, which includes three lakes, 2,800 trees, car-free jogging routes and 40 acres of sports fields, has been recognised with numerous awards in the past decade, and is a key attraction for many of our students.

On this latest success, Mick Minshull, Head of Grounds at the University of Essex, said: “To have won the Green Flag Award eight years in a row is an outstanding achievement and something the whole team can be extremely proud of.

“A lot of hard work goes into maintaining and preserving Wivenhoe Park, and I cannot thank my team enough for the commitment they show to ensuring it always looks its best, regardless of the weather.

“The park is a real asset not just to students and staff here at Essex, but to the wider Colchester community and it’s wonderful to see its status consistently recognised through the Green Flag Award.”

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at the University of Essex on achieving a Green Flag Award.

“Wivenhoe Park is a vital green space for communities in Colchester to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health.

"We know that staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.

"It is important that our free to use spaces are maintained to the Green Flag Award standard, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government.