International recognition for management of Hastings parks

Frimley Park Rose Gardens

Hastings is renowned for its beautiful green spaces, and this week four of its parks joined a list of 26 around the country to be recognised with international Green Flag awards.

For the fourth year running Cornwall Park, Flaxmere Park and Havelock North Village Green had their prestigious Green Flag status renewed, and Frimley Park joined the list and gained its first award.

The awards recognise excellent parks that provide high quality, innovative recreational experiences for their communities.

Providing feedback on the parks, based on assessing the award applications and making site visits, the award judges were glowing in their reaction to all four parks.

Of Cornwall Park they said: The management of this site is outstanding … It is wonderful to visit a site that is so obviously loved by the community and managed by an engaged and dedicated team. Congratulations to everyone involved in creating a wonderful community asset.”

Flaxmere Park they said was “well planned … the recent development of the new skate park has incorporated catering options and this area has created a sense of arrival to this area of the park. The design is contemporary and functional but complements the surroundings”.

The Village Green epitomised the Green Flag Award, the judges said.

“It’s an impressive site, well managed and pretty hard to find fault with. Great team, well organised with a clear vision that leads to really good outcomes on the ground.

For its first Green Flag, Frimley Park was a worthy recipient, said the judges.

“The park embraces its heritage and combines some nice modern touches with the contemporary but traditional rose gardens and the historic homestead site.

“Intentional or not, the new water infrastructure harks back to an earlier era and whilst the tank is a significant landscape element it does not dominate.

“Hastings District Council have exhibited a commitment to delivering on the expectations of the reserve management plan.”

For all the parks the judges commended the high standard of maintenance, health and safety procedures, cleanliness, biodiversity, environmental management, community involvement and marketing.

Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said she was extremely proud to have these much-loved spaces recognised in this way.

“Our community plays a vital role in the development of these parks and our council is charged with keeping them to a high standard that fulfils the aspirations of the community.

“The community volunteers, the council’s parks team and our contractors Recreational Services do an outstanding job maintaining and managing these important areas of our city and its fantastic that these awards showcase them to the rest of the world.”

There are 27 criteria against which the parks are judged, including their Reserve Management Plans, community consultation and engagement processes, environmental and sustainability practises, horticultural management and succession planning, safety, and how accessible and welcoming they are to their communities.

They are judged each year to ensure the parks are being consistently improved and meeting these needs.

Along with these parks, Te Mata Park also had its Green Flag status renewed.

17 November 2023

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