Green Flag glory for village playing field near Garstang

Today a Green Flag, a renowned quality mark, was unfurled at the Queen Elizabeth II Playing Field at Catterall, near Garstang.

It was the culmination of a six year project which has seen the land off Garstang Road transformed from mostly grassland to a facility providing attractions for all ages, including three play areas for different age groups, a football pitch, a fitness trail, seating, a pergola and planted areas.

The award is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces and delighted Parish Councillor Jan Finch, who led the work to develop the playing field on behalf of Catterall Parish Council, said: “ It's just a lovely space. We are proud to have achieved the standard for the Green Flag Award after all the years of work by not only Catterall Parish Council staff and councillors, but also Catterall in Bloom volunteers. People tell us how much they value and enjoy this much loved green space and that makes all the work worthwhile.”

She continued: "We've planted quite a few trees. It's gone from being a field with a dilapidated play area to something for all age groups.We never thought we would do it this quickly, but we were helped with a grant from the European LEADER Rural Development Fund."

A £160,000 award meant, she said, that they could do some of the "big ticket" changes. With other welcome funding Coun Finch said the whole project has cost around £250,000.She added: "The fitness trail, the adventure play area and the wheeled play area were funded by the Rural Development Fund with a small contribution from Sport England for the fitness trail."

Award organisers Keep Britain Tidy said: "After 18 months that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that Catterall Queen Elizabeth II Playing Field has achieved the Green Flag Award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that make the green space a great space that everyone can enjoy."

Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said the recognition meant staff and volunteers had: "high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management" and the Catterall facility was a "place that supports people to live healthy lives.”

The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by the environmental charity under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The award recognises and rewards "well-managed parks and green spaces" and sets a benchmark standard for the management of those green spaces.

Catterall Parish Council now hopes to complete the playing field redevelopment by renewing the MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) on the site.

* Any green space that is freely accessible to the public can be entered for a Green Flag Award. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Flag status.

For more on today's Green Flag awards and local winners see here

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