Moors Valley Celebrates Green Flag Award 2021

In a record-breaking year for the Green Flag Award, as the scheme marks its Silver Jubilee, Dorset Council has six countryside sites celebrating success today – the best ever results for Dorset.

Today, Dorset Council is raising a Green Flag Award at six of its parks. The award is the international quality mark for parks and greenspaces.

After 18 months that have seen our parks and green spaces play a vital role for people through the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns as a place to relax, exercise and meet friends and family safely, the news that Dorset Council has achieved so many Green Flag Awards is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team.

Six parks and greenspaces across the Dorset Council area have been awarded a Green Flag Award, representing the mark of a quality park or green space.

Moors Valley, Avon Heath and Durlston Country Park, plus Thorncombe Woods near Dorchester, and the Milldown and Stour Meadows in Blandford, have all been recognised by the Green Flag Award scheme as some of the very best in the world.

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.

Each of our parks and open spaces offer visitors a totally different experience. From tree top adventure at Moors Valley, rare heathland at Avon Heath, cliff-top nature reserve at Durlston, the historic Thorncombe Woods or Stour Meadows where otters are regularly seen playing in the river.

Commenting on the news that Dorset Council has achieved six Green Flag Awards, Green Flag Award Scheme Manager Paul Todd said:

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making Dorset Council worthy of this achievement”

“To meet the requirements demanded by the scheme is testament to the hard work of the staff and volunteers who do so much to ensure these parks have high standards of horticulture, safety and environmental management and is a place that supports people to live healthy lives.”

This international award, is a sign to the public that the space has the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said:

“In the last year we have all been reminded how important our Country Parks and greenspaces have been to the public and visitors to Dorset. Places where we can enjoy wildlife, landscape, outdoor activities of Dorset or just catching up with friends in the fresh air.

“Winning these six awards is recognition of what superb parks we have and a way of saying thank you to the staff and volunteers that maintain the high standards demanded by the Green Flag Award.”