Bob's Park awarded the Green Flag award
6 September 2012
We are pleased to announce that Bob's Park has been awarded the Green Flag award in recognition of being a safe, healthy and welcoming place for the local community.
One aspect of the Green Flag criteria is an emphasis on community involvement and no where can this be seen better than the collaboration of Green Dreams, the Centre's resident social enterprise, and PoLLeN, the Centre's therapeutic horticulture project for those experiencing mental distress. Whilst Green Dreams do a wonderful job of maintaining the wider park and ensuring that it is a pleasant and safe space to be enjoyed by local families, PoLLeN are responsible for the upkeep of the flower garden and allotment.
"I am delighted that the hard work and dedication of the Green Dreams maintenance team and PoLLeN participants has been recognised through the awarding of the Green Flag to Bob's Park." Lisa, PoLLeN Project Coordinator
PoLLeN members have gained valuable impromptu demonstrations of techniques, such as pruning, from the Green Dreams team and enjoy the opportunity to share their visions and ideas for the flower garden with professional horticulturalists.
"I feel [the Green Flag Award] reflects an increasing level of skill among our group as well as a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the park, and a greater level of respect from local residents who make full use of the park and wider Centre." Lisa, PoLLeN Project Coordinator
As the largest green space for a ward of over 15,000 people, Bob's Park is important for the local community and projects across the Centre. Bob's Park has been the venue for a number of weird and wonderful occasions and celebrations including; several Job Fairs and Learning Certificate Celebrations, free Carnival creative workshops for all the family, an Easter Bonnet parade and much more!
"As a local resident living in a block of flats since 1988 I have had the privilege of watching a derelict waste ground turn into a beautiful park; it's a wonderful joy to be able to bring my grandchildren into a nice green space where they can happily play safely in a natural environment. Their favourite places to play are in the Rose garden and Children's garden as they love discovering all the new plants/flowers growing and playing hide & seek. My granddaughter who is 4 years old likes to call the Rose garden her 'secret garden'." Local Resident
We would like to congratulate Green Dreams and PoLLeN and thank them for their continued hard work in ensuring that the park is a welcoming space for the whole community.
