Council Awarded Green Flag for 10th Year

Henley Town Council is celebrating after receiving a Green Flag Award for Mill and Marsh Meadows for the 10th year running. The news that Henley Town Council has achieved the accreditation – the international quality mark for parks and green spaces – is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that everyone can enjoy it.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd MBE said, “I would like to congratulate everyone involved at Henley Town Council on achieving a Green Flag Award. Mill Meadows is a vital green space for the community in Henley, 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 achievement.”

Chair of Recreations & Amenities Committee, Councillor Kellie Hinton said, “I am so incredibly proud of our Parks Team. Once again, their effort and commitment to such a high standard of work has been recognised and it is so well deserved. We are privileged to have our own Parks Team in Henley with a broad range of expertise. It means, as a Town Council, we can really do our best to make Henley the most beautiful and enjoyable place to live, work and visit.”

Parks Manager Karl Bishop says “It is great to retain this award. The team work hard all year round to maintain high standards across the town. It is very nice to have this area recognised to this standard. I would like to thank everyone involved – all staff and volunteers – for their continued support.”

It was very much a team effort on the day of judging. Megan Sealy from the River and Rowing museum launched the tour at the newly reopened museum and enthused about the links with the river and surrounding wildlife areas; used frequently by the museum for educational projects.

There was then a warm welcome at the Henley Bowls Club where the judge met Councillor Kellie Hinton, Estates Manager Becky Walker, Parks Manager Karl Bishop and Assistant Manager Kyle Dowling. Daisy Smith, Communications Manager, then discussed marketing and promotions whilst showing the judge around the Adventure Golf. The judge was really impressed with the new Adventure Golf and remarked on the planting structure and diversity at the site – all developed by the Parks Team.

Viv Greenwood shared some of the history of the meadows before Town Centre Manager, Paul Carey talked about the events and bandstand use and Town Clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edwards discussed the wider council involvement. Sally Rankin with the Council’s Conservation Officer, Lex Volkes discussed the wildlife and conservation plans in place as well as future plans for the meadows.

The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.