The Green Flag judges returned to Pittville Park this year to see if the park still reached the standards for the Green Flag Award (GFA) and the equally important Green Heritage Site Accreditation (GHSA). These are internationally recognised awards and the latter is supported by Historic England. Pittville Park is the only park with the Green Heritage Award in Gloucestershire and only one of 136 overall. GHSA means achieving the required standard in the management and interpretation of a park with local or national historic importance.
Friends of Pittville was involved in the inspection by the judges in May, which followed the usual bi-annual submission by the CBC Green Space team in January and included the Ten Year Management Plan for the park. The judging involves walking around the park and asking a lot of questions for about two hours, after which the judges leave the team and sit down to discuss the scores. The two awards are marked separately and one third of the marks are given for the submission and two thirds for the site inspection.
The judges give feedback in various categories, stating strengths and giving recommendations. One strength was FoP, who the judges felt were ‘an invaluable asset to the park, research and to drive restoration, the restoration of the steps being exemplary’. They thought there were generally high conservation standards to the Pump Room, steps and the rockery, but they noted repairs were needed to the bandstand timbers and some cleaning and repair work was required to the bridges on the upper lake as well as clearing vegetation in front of them to restore the views.
They felt good use was made of interpretation boards and QR codes in the park, which appeared popular. FoP now hopes to create an interpretation board for the Pump Room, to be placed near the newly restored steps. The judges were keen to see horticultural displays which contribute to the historic character of the park, the rockery being a good example. But they would have liked to see greater ambition in restoring features. FoP Green Space Volunteers probably already have as many horticultural features as they can look after, taking into account their plans to create a sensory garden. The continued value and preservation of the veteran trees in the park that form part of the park’s Regency feel was also acknowledged.
FoP are pleased to report that Pittville Park has retained the GFA and GHSA for another two years, although a ‘mystery shopper’ will make a visit next year just to check on the park.
Author: Chris Archibald