Beauty spots still flying green flag

Alexandra Park

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TWO of Oldham's best-loved parks have retained their prestigious Green Flag Awards.

The awards - made during Love Parks Week - mean the green spaces are officially recognised as among the best in the UK.

A "mystery shopper" from charity Keep Britain Tidy visited Alexandra Park in Oldham and Shaw's Dunwood Park and judged them to be well-managed and high-quality.

The green spaces were also deemed to provide excellent facilities at international standard and were praised for their conservation and heritage work.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: "These Green Flag Awards recognise that Oldham Council is committed to providing high standard green spaces for residents and visitors.

"To hear Alexandra Park and Dunwood Park have retained theirs flags is great news. I would like to congratulate council staff and volunteers who have done a fantastic job in helping us retain these awards.

"Summer is here so it's a great time to explore your nearest park - they are free, safe and have top class facilities."

Paul Todd, International Green Flag Award scheme manager, said: "We are delighted to be celebrating another record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award scheme, especially as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the awards.

"All the flags flying this year are a testament to the efforts of the thousands of men and women, both staff and volunteers, who work tirelessly to maintain the high standards demanded."

A record 1,686 parks and green spaces will receive a Green Flag Award.

Oldham's largest park, Alexandra Park was built during the cotton famine sparked by the American Civil War, which prevented the export of raw cotton from America to Oldham.

In 2014 English Heritage boosted Alexandra Park's listed status on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England from Grade II to Grade II* - a first for an open space in Oldham.

Dunwood Park offers the opportunity to discover and enjoy its wooded hillside with views across the Beal Valley towards Crompton Moor.