THE community group behind the Calne Pop-Up Pocket Park are celebrating the news that the community garden has been awarded a prestigious Green Flag Award in the Community Space category for the second year running.
The Green Flag Award, the international quality mark for parks and green spaces, has seen successful submissions from local authorities and other land managers across the country for a range of sites, from world-famous city parks to small, local green spaces including Calne's Pop-Up Pocket Park.
Though hundreds of Green Flags are awarded to councils to recognise the quality of their maintenance of parks and other public green spaces, very few Green Flags are given to community spaces maintained by volunteers, which makes this award even more special.
Chairman of Calne Pocket Park and Community Garden, John Boaler told us: "It is great recognition for the volunteers who turn out on Sunday afternoons to look after the Pocket Park and organise and help at the various activities and events we hold.
Set up in 2019 by a group of volunteers, Calne Pocket Park has developed into a space where people of all ages can visit to sit, chat or play in the garden. There are regular community events held at the park, including outdoor theatre productions, live music, workshops and children's activities. Everyone is welcome.
Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, Paul Todd MBE, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Calne Pocket Park on achieving a Green Flag Award.
“Calne Pocket Park is a vital green space for communities in Calne 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.”
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