Rossendale Borough Council is celebrating after receiving the prestigious Green Flag Award for Stubbylee and Moorlands Park.
The news that the park has achieved the accreditation – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces – is testament to the hard work and dedication of the council team and group of volunteers that care for the green space so that everyone can enjoy it.
Cllr Barbara Ashworth said: “The benefit for our mental and physical health of being outdoors is well documented. To be lucky enough to have a great park and play area for everyone to enjoy right on our doorstep is just fantastic, and we’re all extremely proud of what’s been achieved at Stubbylee and Moorlands Park.
“We’ve had some great improvements over the past year, which are especially popular with our younger residents including fantastic new tennis courts and improvements to the skate park.”
Pat Smith from Bacup Pride also coordinates the community allotments at Stubbylee said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have secured Green Flag status for Stubbylee and Moorlands again. The work our fantastic volunteers and staff do to maintain the high standards demanded to achieve the Green Flag Award is just phenomenal.
“I’m really proud of all the community groups, councillors and officers that form the Stubbylee and Moorlands masterplan group – who over the last decade have been a driving force in bringing improvements to the park.”
Cllr Ashworth added: “Stubbylee and Moorlands is a shining example of what can be achieved, and we want more of Rossendale’s beautiful parks to achieve Green Flag status. It does take a lot of hard work and dedication but I’m sure with the green spaces staff and the raft of dedicated volunteers we rely on it won’t be long before we achieve that.”
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Stubbylee and Moorlands in achieving a Green Flag Award.
“Parks are a vital green spaces for the communities, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award, and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement.”