Green Flag Awards for Burnham-on-Sea
Two sites in the coastal town have been awarded the accolade by Keep Britain Tidy
Two green spaces in a Somerset coastal town have received international recognition for the quality of their facilities.
The Green Flag award scheme, which is now in its fourth decade, awards green spaces to the public spaces with the highest possible environmental standards, welcoming visitor facilities and in recognition of their excellent maintenance record.
Apex Leisure & Wildlife Park and Marine Cove Gardens in Burnham-on-Sea are among 12 green spaces in Somerset which have been recognised this year by Keep Britain Tidy, which operates the Green Flag scheme on behalf of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
The awards have been warmly received by Somerset Council, with officers praising the “tireless work” of both its staff and the hundreds of volunteers involved.
Apex Park forms the boundary between Burnham-on-Sea and Highbridge, covering 42 acres which was once dominated by clay pits and a brickworks.
The park includes a large children’s play area and outdoor gym, a woodland walk, a dog agility area, a skate park and its fishing lake – part of which is available for sailing model boats.
The park serves as a focal point for the community, serving as the venue for the annual Party in the Park and Play Day (with free parking being available on site).
It also attracts large numbers of dog-walkers and runners, with a 5km parkrun being held every Saturday from 9am.
Improved pedestrian and cycle links between Apex Park and new housing at the southern edge of Highbridge were proposed as part of a £19.3m bid to the government’s levelling up fund; however, despite positive feedback from DLUHC officials, the bid was ultimately unsuccessful.
Marine Cove Gardens lies at the northern edge of The Esplanade, a short walk from St. Andrew’s Church and the amusements arcade on the town’s seafront.
The gardens are hidden behind high stonewalls, providing sanctuary from cold winds and an excellent spot for secluded picnics.
The gardens – including the art deco-style fish pond – were restored in 2011 following a successful bid to the heritage lottery fund.
Paul Todd MBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag award scheme manager, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Somerset Council for achieving so many Green Flag awards.
“These parks provide vital green space for the people of Somerset, 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 achievements.”
The two parks can be accessed by a short walk along Marine Drive, following the route of the former Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway line which terminated at the seafront.
The line (known as the ‘slow and dirty’ or the ‘slow and doubtful’ due to its unreliability) brought holidaymakers to the coast between May 1858 and October 1951, with the entire line being dismantled in the mid-1960s as part of the infamous Beeching cuts.
Elements of the line have been retained to make the town’s history, including the buffers, a railway signal and a replica signal box – with the original now being located at Washford station on the West Somerset Railway.
In addition to these two Burnham-on-Sea parks, ten other Somerset green spaces have been awarded Green Flag status this time around – namely:
- Blenheim Gardens in Minehead (where a new café recently began to operate)
- Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve (whose status could be threatened in the future by plans for the Chard eastern relief road)
- Collett Park in Shepton Mallet (which is managed by the town council)
- French Weir Park in Taunton (which was recently secured as a field in trust)
- Victoria Park in Taunton
- Vivary Park in Taunton (which will soon be getting an improved walking and cycling link to the town centre)
- Swains Lane nature reserve in Wellington
- Wellington Park in Wellington Park (near the town’s sports centre)
- Ham Hill Country Park near Yeovil (where a new visitors centre’ will soon be constructed following a successful bid to the heritage lottery fund)
- Yeovil Country Park (also known as Ninesprings)
Ham Hill Country Park near Yeovil (where a new visitors centre’ will soon be constructed following a successful bid to the heritage lottery fund)
Yeovil Country Park (also known as Ninesprings)
Sarah Dowden, the council’s service director for regulatory and operational management, said: “Each of these flags honours each and every one of our dedicated staff, volunteers, and friends’ groups who all work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag award.
“We are proud to have so many wonderful award-winning green spaces for the people of Somerset to enjoy.”
Kirsty Larkins, the council’s director of climate and sustainability, added: “It goes without saying that access to the countryside and parks is important for our health and well-being, we are also proud that our open spaces are managed to support an array of wildlife and are able to play a vital role in supporting nature’s recovery.”