Cranbrook Country Park granted Green Flag Award

Cranbrook Town Council is celebrating after Cranbrook Country Park received the coveted Green Flag Award in recognition of achieving the international benchmark for quality parks and green spaces.

Cranbrook Town Council said that this accreditation is a testament to the tireless hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space, ensuring that visitors and residents alike can enjoy it.

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

“Cranbrook Country Parks is a vital green space for communities in Cranbrook, Exeter, to socialise, enjoy nature, for children to play safely and it provides important opportunities for park users to improve their physical and mental health, making them accessible for all members of the community while ensuring the environment is protected.”  

Councillor Les Bayliss, Chairman of Cranbrook Town Council, said: “It is our honour to receive the Green Flag Award. Our team and volunteers have demonstrated dedication in building and maintaining a beautiful and healthy town.

“We hope everyone can enjoy the magnificent green spaces in Cranbrook.” 

The maintenance of Country Park is a truly communal effort. 

Cranbrook Town Council told Exeter Today: “The Ranger of Cranbrook Town Council works with a group of eight to 14 volunteers including local residents and recently home-schooled children along with their parents and carers.

“We have also built a community garden in the Country Park, where volunteers gather every Sunday to help develop and maintain the garden.”

Managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Green Flag Award scheme sets the standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.

This isn’t the first time that the 35-hectare outdoor space has been officially recognised for its excellence.

Made up of three meadows called Long, Stone, and Great, the Country Park is home to a large range of biodiverse habitats, containing kingfishers, bats, ducks, insects and plants.

In December 2022, the park won a BALI Award, the largest landscaping award in Europe, in the category “Grounds Maintenance - Free Public Access”.

When asked about future plans for Country Park, Cranbrook Town Council said: “Improvements to the Country Park are a key priority. As Cranbrook grows, it is likely that the Country Park will adapt to accommodate this growth. We envisage that additional areas of suitable alternative natural greenspace will be included in future development areas.

“The Town Council is also in constant contact with residents, listening to their views and addressing their queries. We hope to continue maintaining and enhancing the beautiful green spaces of Cranbrook.”