A Community Garden and oasis for wildlife, in Edgbaston, has been recognised as one of the best community run green spaces in the country by winning a prestigious Green Flag Community Award today (Tuesday 17 July).
To celebrate the good news, Martineau Gardens are inviting visitors and volunteers to drop in for a cuppa at 11am, around the Pirate Shipwreck Play Area and hoisting the flag from its mast.
Green Flag Community Awards (part of the Green Flag Award scheme) recognise and reward the best community run green parks in the country and Martineau Gardens stood out after impressing the inspector. The Gardens were judged against eight criteria: a welcoming place; healthy safe and secure; clean and well maintained; sustainability; biodiversity and heritage; community involvement; management and achievements.
The Community Garden though only two miles from Birmingham city centre is a green oasis that is teeming with wildlife. There’s plenty for visitors to explore including woodland, glass houses, a formal garden, an orchard, vegetable plots, a wildflower meadow, a pond, a wildlife area with SLINC status and a ‘Shipwreck’ children’s play area. The Gardens also run an annual events programme and sell plants, produce and jams.
Caroline Hutton, Director, Martineau Gardens said: “Martineau Gardens are a community-run garden that’s open for free to the public. This award is a tribute to the dedication of our volunteers who work hard to keep the gardens a beautiful and tranquil spot for Birmingham people to come and relax in.”
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager, said: “We are thrilled to announce yet another record-breaking year for Green Flag Award parks and green spaces. A Green Flag Award provides national recognition for the achievements of all those whose hard work and dedication has helped to create these fantastic places for all to enjoy.
Martineau Gardens are open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm and are free entry. The Gardens are at 27 Priory Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B5 7UG.
Located five minutes from the MAC and opposite the Priory Hospital. Information at www.martineau-gardens.org.uk or by calling 0121 440 7430.
About the Green Flag
The Green Flag Award Scheme is managed in the UK by a consortium, comprising Keep Britain Tidy, The Conservation Volunteers and GreenSpace. Known collectively as the Green Flag Plus Partnership, the consortium manages the scheme in England on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government and in Wales for the Welsh Steering Group.
Green Flag Award recognises well-managed, high-quality green spaces. Any green space in the UK is eligible to win this award providing it is freely accessible to the public. Previous winners include parks managed by local authorities as well as those run by community groups and trusts. The scheme was set up in 1996.
For more information visit: www.greenflagaward.org.uk
